Abroad thoughts from home

Reflections on Uganda 2024

It’s 5 o’clock on a drizzly March afternoon in Essex,  cold enough for sweaters and the house heating to be on.   My computer tells me that earlier today it was 31⁰C and 80% humidity in Jinja, four thousand miles and two weeks away in Uganda. I wonder how Brian, Ozie, Samuel and Joseph and the others are getting on – our new Ugandan friends we spent an intense two weeks with, in hotels, on our bus and on numerous school playing fields.   How quickly that time went with them.

Similarly,  what are the UK team members doing now we’re back at home.  Have we simply slipped back into the old routine or has the trip made a difference to us?

The photo at the top is of the water current at Lake Victoria as it becomes the source of the Nile.   A reflection if you will, so here’s my short reflection and some quotes from other members of the UK team.

I’m now back from what was an exciting, exhausting, exhilarating and eye-opening visit.  I’ve got many happy memories, many new friends and a wider appreciation for the game we love.  Also an appreciation of Uganda, a country that I knew next to nothing about before the trip but learned so much about so quickly and whose progress I will follow with interest and affection.

First of all, some non-sporting impressions of Uganda from a first time visitor: –

• A country on the brink of huge progress and development
• Affection for, and connection with,  the UK despite the legacy of colonialism.
• The Ugandan currency is the shilling with roughly 5,000/- to the £
• Every advert on the street or TV is in English.
• Every café or hotel TV appears tuned to English football
• Rolexes are a common street food.  A chapati rolled around egg and vegetables, these were our go to lunchtime snack along with Stonies a local ginger beer.
• Cheap fresh fruit is available at roadsides everywhere.
• Take a good book to a Ugandan restaurant. Meals are cooked from scratch and take rather a long time
• Motor bikes are everywhere and are the local taxis – jump on the pillion and off you go.

What are the more enduring memories for me and others in the team ? 

For me, firstly, of the smiles of genuine welcome from everyone we met, the greetings in English and almost overwhelming enthusiasm of the school pupils.  Secondly, of the deep emerald and rust colours especially after the frequent rains – a fertile and welcoming landscape.  Thirdly,  of the power of sport to create links between people from vastly different backgrounds.    Finally, the friendships and connections which I hope will endure for years to  come.

We were there to help develop cricket in Uganda. There is already a foundation in place which has seen the men’s national team qualify for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean at the end of May.  The women are about to begin their qualifying competition.  Our job with primary schools was to widen the base by introducing as many young people as possible to the game – we managed 7,500 in two weeks which isn’t bad.   Hopefully, this will encourage long term participation amongst enough people to help deepen the foundation.   The majority of our team being female emphasised our “cricket is for everyone” message as did our insistence on five boys and five girls in every tournament team.  The hope is that this seed will grow in male dominated soil.

However, if cricket was the reason for us being there, the personal connections were far wider than sport.   The fascination and giggles from children of seeing an aging, white man lathering up with sun-block was matched by my appreciation of them being happy, enthusiastic and well-nourished, contrary perhaps to my preconceptions.    Being thanked at the end of a session by an impromptu choir brought tears to my eyes, I hope the equipment and lessons we left behind will bring appreciation if not tears.   I’ll also never forget the spontaneous laughter on the first time I took off my wide-brimmed hat to reveal grey hair. 

Two connections stand out.   First of all, following a session at Kivubuka Primary School in Jinja we were introduced via Ozie to the ladies of the Bugabula Royal Foundation Group.  These older women were grandmothers of the school pupils who met every Wednesday to chat and make soap.  We were welcomed, told about the group, asked to introduce ourselves and had a chat. We then encouraged them to have a go with the bat – after some initial reluctance their competitiveness came out and we staged a longest hit competition.  This introduction to cricket will with any luck rub off on their grandchildren.  Again we were given a tearful, choral send-off.   We were able to repay their hospitality by clubbing together to buy a sewing machine for the group.

Secondly, on our last morning through team leader Mark we were able to visit the Entebbe Welfare Primary School for children with disabilities and special needs.   The staff have little time and little equipment to do PE so the 90 minutes we spent with them on the public land next to the school was appreciated.  The passers-by were surprised to see then pupils out and enjoying themselves which in itself might have changed some perceptions.  

Other comments from members of the team…

Yolanda

In my view, if our work has stopped one girl from being abused, or allowed one girl to ditch a conventional path through life and try something (not necessarily cricket) different, or means that one boy treats a girl with more respect then it has been a success.

 Rebecca

I’ve changed my out-look on a few things since I’ve been back. Spending habits & how I coach and play cricket have altered a little bit. The style of coaching with CWB came in handy when I coached 60 French exchange students yesterday. Who needs perfect English?! Great demos, getting them moving quickly & lots of positive hand signals. Hitting the ball off the cones so much this spring is translating into stronger driving shots in the nets. 

Tarn

I knew before we went that the trip would change me but I didn’t know how and to be honest I don’t think I still know properly but know it has if that makes sense. I can’t wait for the summer season to start so I can get back to coaching.

She’s already signed up again for another CWB trip.

Joanna

I can’t sum up the experience and the effect it had on me, because it’s just too vast. At times, I felt a million miles away from home, but at the same time I was in exactly the right place. I got back to my desk on the Monday morning all the richer for it. If one just child gets an opportunity they wouldn’t have had without cricket, I truly believe we’ve changed the world. 

Kariana

To reach that many children in such a short space of time was something really quite incredible and my fondest memory will always be that very first festival. I was just wowed by the raw talent, but not just that it was the kids’ drive, tenacity, desire to work their absolute hardest for their team and to see how far they progressed from the very first game to the last was magical.

Would I go again?  Like a shot once my dodgy knee is sorted out.

Jim Lynch