The Ugandan Humanists (UHASSO) have developed a range of projects to benefit local communities – each a demonstration of Humanism in action.

Two Humanist schools, each with over 100 pupils, have been established. They give support to orphaned and disadvantaged children in locations 120 kilometres either side of Kampala. A third is being developed nearer to Kampala. There is also a vocational training centre and two animal-husbandry projects to help families who have lost their breadwinners, often from HIV/AIDS, to earn a living. In addition, there are two very active women’s organisations promoting the health and well-being of women.

Isaac Newton High School

This school, 120 km south-west of Kampala, was founded by Peter Kisirinya. He bought land and built the first two classrooms in a rural area near Masaka with funds donated by his family and friends. By 2006 the school had over 80 pupils, but needed help with running expenses because only half the pupils could afford tuition fees.

The UK North East Humanists set up a fund for the tuition of orphans and other disadvantaged children at the school. In 2006 they sent £2880 to support 24 students. Similar funding is well under way for 2007.

A further two classrooms were completed early in 2007, so that the current 100 pupils can now be satisfactorily accommodated in four class levels.

The next step was to offer science tuition (a requirement of the national curriculum). This necessitated the construction of a science laboratory, so Peter successfully applied for a grant of €10 000 from IHEU/HIVOS for this purpose. Roofing of the laboratory was due for completion this summer.

Further capital is still required to meet some needs. The school is in a rural area without a power supply, so a generator would make a considerable difference. Funding for disadvantaged children will obviously be an ongoing need.

Mustard Seed School

Located 120 km north-east of Kampala, the Mustard Seed school was started in 2004 by Moses Kamya. By 2006 the school had over 100 pupils. Moses wrote an article about the school for New Humanist magazine. The editor of New Humanist, Caspar Melville, set up a fund to enable his readers to support the school. The fund has raised over £8000, which has paid for a four-room school building and also the provision of free schooling to 19 students. A high proportion of students have joined the school’s Skeptical Union.

Although the building programme is proceeding well, the school still needs funding for a science laboratory and other facilities.

Mpigi District School

In 2004 UHASSO submitted to IHEU a proposal for a modest rural school similar to the ones described. Soon afterwards, £15 000 was donated to the International Humanist Trust to support the establishment of such a school in the area near Kampala. At the 2005 IHEU Paris Congress it was suggested combining such a school with an African Humanist Institute.

UHASSO found a suitable site for the school 40 km south-west of Kampala and received grants totalling £10 000 from IHEU towards its creation.

The plan for combining the school with an African Humanist Institute was considered to be beyond the current means of IHEU, so work went ahead with the construction of just the school with the aid of a €5000 grant from IHEU and HIVOS. A further €5000 was granted in 2007. The school is expected to open in February 2008, but will probably need further funding.

Humanistic Volunteers and Self Help (HUVOSH) Project

The HUVOSH project was started in 2005 to provide training in the keeping of animals for families who had lost a main breadwinner to HIV/AIDS.

In two areas around Masaka and Wakiso, families have also been provided with female piglets that have been mated so that litters can provide a source of income. This project is being supported by the Norwegian Humanist organisation HAMU.

The Masaka project uses the Isaac Newton School for training. The local community approves of the association of education with practical training. The benefits derived from this association could perhaps lead to the establishment of animal husbandry in the areas round the other two schools.

Women’s organisations, UHESWO and WOFEWO

The Ugandan Humanist Effort to Save Women (UHESWO) was founded in 2006 by young Humanist women and is chaired by Betty Nassaka. (See an article by Betty on page XXXX.)

They have set up an Adult Education Centre to provide vocational training for women as well as health education and literacy. At the moment, they are in need of equipment such as computers and sewing machines.

One of their projects involves counselling and training for prostitutes so that they can access alternative sources of income. This project is also being helped by HAMU.

The Women and the Free World Organisation (WOFEWO) was founded in 2003 and is chaired by Annette Nalunga. They have a particular interest in promoting the rights of rural women and have opened a shelter where victims of domestic violence can be helped.

In January 2007, they organised a conference dealing with reproductive health and reproductive rights. A doctor from Makerere University discussed abortion, rape and the rights of patients, and there were a number of other professional presentations.

Funding

It is clear that the Humanist activists in Uganda are working hard and coming up with valuable initiatives, but they do need considerable help with funding. IHEU has limited funds for specific projects and what is needed is help from individual Humanist organisations in the developed world. We have already seen how the Uganda projects have been helped by IHEU, HIVOS, HAMU, North East Humanists and the readers of New Humanist. Other Humanist groups might consider providing further help, whilst individuals can always send money to the International Humanist Trust, c/o IHEU in London, earmarking it for a particular project or organisation. Gift Aid tax relief is available for UK-resident tax-payers.

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Barrie Berkley is a member of the UK North East Humanists and the IHEU Committee for Growth and Development