History of Uganda

Uganda’s borders were established by the British Empire, bringing together various ethnic groups, each having its own cultural characteristics and method of government. After gaining its independence from the colonial power in 1962, Uganda struggled to establish a functioning political system: Idi Amin’s dictatorship (1971 – 1979), which was held responsible for the deaths of around 300,000 opponents, was followed by Milton Obote’s regime (1980 – 1985). A period of civil war and humiliating humanitarian situations cost at least a further 100,000 lives.

Uganda’s governmental and economic situations have improved since Musevni has been leading the country (1986 – present). The Lord’s Resistance Army, which roams the northern part of the country is a threat to peace, however. This rebel group wants to found a state on the basis of the Bible’s ten commandments, but have kidnapped some 20,000 children to serve as soldiers in its army. Tourists are also discouraged from travelling in the area which borders on the Congo because of the skirmishes which can erupt there. Nevertheless, since the nineties the country has a democratic, multi-party system with free elections.
Economy
Uganda has considerable potential, with very fertile ground, regular rainfall and minerals such as copper, cobalt and gold. More that 80% of the population works in the agricultural sector; coffee is the most important crop in terms of profitability. The economy has been growing since 2000, thanks to investments in infrastructure and reduction of the national debt.

Facts
Area: 236,040 km2
Population: 30,262,610 (2008 estimate)
Neighbour countries: Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan and Tanzania
Minerals: Copper, cobalt, gold, lime, salt
Geographic advantages:  Fertile farmland, no danger of natural disasters, waterfalls (hydroelectric power), lies on Lake Victoria (fishing & tourism), favourable climate.
Languages: English (official) and local languages such as Luganda, Niger-Congo, Arabic and Swahili.
Capital: Kampala
Government: Republic (since 1995, with free elections and a Multi-party system)
Economic growth: 6%  in 2007 (African average 5.6%)
Main agricultural products: Coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, manioc,  potatoes, corn, flowers, meat, milk and poultry
Main exports: Coffee, fish (Nile perch), tea, cotton, flowers and gold
Main export countries: Belgium (9.9%), Netherlands (9.4%), France (7.9%), Germany (7.7%), Rwanda (5.6%) and Sudan (4.8%)
Water: Lake Victoria, Albert Nile (upper Nile)
Currency: Ugandan Shilling (2007 exchange rate: 1,685.8 UGX per US Dollar)
Telecommunications: 108,100 landlines and 2009 million mobile ones (2006 figures)

History of Bushenyi

Bushenyi used to be part of the Kingdom of Angola. After the kingdoms were dismantled in 1967, Angola became a district. It was divided up into East and West Angola in 1974. In 1980 West Angola was renamed the Bushenyi district. It has an area of 4,292 km2.

The Bushenyi district has considerable rainfall, thanks to the many high-altitude areas. The average temperature is around 25 degrees and there is a large diversity of green vegetation.

Population: 784, 300
Largest cities: Bushenyi, Ishaka, Kabwohe
Languages: Runyankore, English (2nd language)

Economic Activities:
Agriculture with emphasis on staple crops, market crops, fruit and dairy production.

Staple crops:
Corn
Bananas
Millet
Rice
Sweet potatoes
Manioc
Soya beans
Regular beans

Fruit & vegetables:
Citrus fruit
Tomatoes
Cabbage
Onions
Pineapple

Market crops:
Ginger
Cotton
Sunflowers
Coffee & tea

Dairy:
Milk
Butter
Yogurt

Forestation
The environment of the Bushenyi District is green, mountainous and includes 89,439 hectares of woodland.

Farm animals (approx. figures)
161,000 cattle
10,000 pigs,
24,000 sheep
60,000 goats,
15,000 chickens

Travel time
The project is about 5 ½ hours’ drive from Entebbe airport. It lies at an altitude of 1,750 m.
The road quality varies widely, from bad to reasonable, but has been somewhat improved over the last years.

 

Project Information:

Organisation: “God’s Hands and Feet” Foundation
Director:  Pastor Israel Nabimanya

Introduction

The project is led by Pastor Israel and his board, which includes a doctor, school director, fellow pastor and member of the school’s board of directors. It will be expanded as the project grows.

When Pastor Israel’s father was dying, he asked his son to continue his work. The project is a result of his wishes.

Pastor Israel grew up in a Christian family of 10 children: 5 boys & 5 girls. As a boy, he spent most of his time in his father’s shop, before the latter became a pastor. When he was nine years old he went to his older brother in Kampala, where they both attended the 3rd form of the lower school, but his brother could no longer support him. During this time, Israel decided to follow his Christian calling, but had to spend a year serving in the Ugandan army. After his military service he joined his father, who by then was pastor for his village. They worked together for three years. His father’s church started with two members and grew to a congregation of forty.

Pastor Israel then got married and started his own company to support his family. Later on he attended a Bible school in Masaka, studied for two years to become a pastor and then became a volunteer teacher at the Bible school. It was during this time that he had a motorbike accident and broke his leg. In this same year he lost his father, in March 2007.

In June & July he was supposed to escort a group to Kiabazala, but his supervisor switched locations to Masaka. There he came into contact with members of the Twawebwa Mukama and Mukwano foundations, and from that moment their relationship has grown into a close co-operation.