Drought in Masaka
Sat, 2011/04/30 - 23:06 —
We were even not able to pay teachers salaries for April and parts of March.
Many children were not able to pay school fees (our only income). Many dropped out of school due to lack of school fees as most parents/guardians are very poor and the majority of our children who study here are orphans.
We shall need much and more prayers.
Yours
Christopher Wamala
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
UGANDA
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You can find more information on the school and how you can help, on the Notre Dame High School website or in the Masaka Project Room.
For anyone who doesn't know, there have been violent protests in Uganda during the last few weeks, which started over rising fuel and food prices, and this is what Christoper is referring to when he mentions violence in Masaka. As I understand it, things are calmer today, and of course I hope they stay that way, although it is very possible there will be more trouble after the weekend. So to Christopher and any other Ugandans reading this.... stay safe!
Mary
(2 votes)
Yes now the rain season has started.
But the school doesnt have enough or big land to practice meaningful agriculture.But 2 weeks ago we visted a certain commercial farm with Isleal origin that sales Drop irrigation kits.Withsuch a kit one can use small pieces of lan to pracctice meaningfful agriculture.
We hope to post a task on this to find ways to buy atleast 4 kits.Each kit costs 4.000.000/= Ug Shs.
lf any other has interest please contact www.agromaxu.com
Hi Christopher
Its good to hear that the rains have started :)
Have you ever been in contact with Ken Hargesheimer? He can give you information on low-cost bucket drip irrigation, which will cost a lot less than that, and also other simple ways of increasing crop yields.
The kits for this are certainly available in Kenya, so would assume you can get them in Uganda too. I am pretty sure that one of the Ugandan villages was able to get hold of some, although I don't know where from. Does anyone know?
Mary
Dear Mary,
Thank you very much for the information.
We shall learn more about it and see.
Yes,he did send us come DVDs but they were not use properly.
Let us try further this time.
Christopher
Christopher
I'm sorry to hear that the drought has caused big trouble. We don't hear these things on the news in the UK. I hope the rains will now ease the problems.
My suggestion is that, as well as drip irrigation and Mary's suggestion above, you may want to look up the pumps made by KickStart in Kenya. They seem to have a really good product and approach to their customers, who are poor farmers who want to do well. Their website is
http://kickstart.org/tech/technologies/micro-irrigation.html
Even if you don't use them at the school, it may be that some of your pupils families would want to know about them, if they are small farmers.
I hope this helps
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Garry Jenkins
Dear Garry,
Thank you very much for the information.
We shall read about the website and have a descussion over this agriculture issu.
Hope it will benefit us.
Christopher.