By Andrew Bullard


For the second or third night in a row we had had the pleasure of being kept awake by all night gathering behind our hotel. Initially, thinking it was pretty bold to be throwing all night parties on a Sunday and Monday night, I think the whole group was sobered by the discovery that in fact these gatherings are to mourn the recent death of a child. So although a bit sleep deprived, we rallied and moved out to organise the festival after breakfast. African time kicks in with the first teams arriving at 10.45 for a 10am start. Boma school arrived first with three teams followed shortly after by Nyamitibora with one team. The festival was under way… Two matches started with the coaching team fully involved. Then the Mbarara Army school arrived with three team about 11.30 and then Ntar school arrived with a team.

day 5 b

It was good to see most of the teachers we had trained up come down with their pupils to the festival. All the kids seemed to enjoy the cricket and the singing with wrist bands, t- shirts handed out and photos taken the teams headed back to their schools. The Army school borrowed our bus to transport the kids back then the coaches headed back for a late lunch.

The afternoon provided an opportunity to purchase some essentials for the team from Mbarara with Joseph driving us into town. A shower and a change of clothes brought us to dinner and we ventured back into town for an excellent meal followed by a pool tournament which Joseph and I won. Luke then delighted us with some childhood games which we all joined in with before heading back to the hotel and our onward journey to Kasese.
day 5 festivalAs we had been warned things do not go to plan or time in Africa and the last few days have provided lots of opportunities to confirm that. However it has been great to see the team pull together and overcome each obstacle with a smile on their faces. Over the years I have been involved in many charity events around the world walking, climbing and cycling my way through. They all seemed to work like clockwork but now I am able to see it from a project leaders viewpoint I am sure they did not and the issues those project leaders encountered will not be dissimilar to mine.
The first leg of the journey is complete now stage 2 as we hit the road on Uganda Independence day.