Very good news from our sponsored student Paul, after a long time waiting! He now has his license and can at last search for a job!

A letter of appreciation from the head teacher of Good Luck Junior School. Addressed to me but everyone at GLJS know I depend on the support of all of you to achieve anything in Uganda 🇺🇬. Thank you

Good news! Travel advice against travelling to Jinja that I have to bypass has been lifted! Only problem places now near Congo border which is no where near. Hope this doesn’t change! 😊

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy fun new year 2024. Love and many many thanks from me and all those you have helped over the years and are helping now. You’ve made such a difference to so many lives! 🇺🇬 🤗

Last week I booked my flights to Uganda, very excited to at last be returning after four years! Then my mood rapidly changed as I searched for a suitable travel insurance company. So far I’ve not found any company to insure me because the UkGov ‘FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Uganda’!
I won’t be going to the particular places they mention but the insurance companies seem to read the advice that it is the whole of Uganda affected.
I’m so disappointed! Just hoping that the advice gets changed before my flight dates which are 16/2 – 14/3. I’ve been given contacts for more specialised insurance companies and will take a look at those. I’m not giving up!!
IF I don’t find cover then I will postpone my flight dates.
In the meantime I will carry on making plans, including trying to raise funds for mosquito 🦟 nets, and desks for Good Luck Junior School.
It had taken me quite while to make the decision to go back to Uganda again as I have torn the rotary cuff in my left shoulder and because of the pain and limited movement am unable to drive myself now so I needed to find a driver sufficiently qualified to ferry me about. The majority of drivers in Uganda are not qualified, often ‘buying’ a licence and not taking any sort of driving test! My friend Godfrey suggested his daughter Abi who is qualified could do the job on her break from university. I’ve known Abi and her dad for many years, since Abi was 3 and came to visit me when I was working at Maria’s Care children’s home in Kamuli. So at least that’s one problem sorted!

I’m still going to organise my stay as if I was going in February. As usual I will be living and working in poorer communities of Uganda, delivering donated mosquito 🦟 nets to those who need them and of course spending time in village schools, in particular Good Luck Junior.
If you can help me raise funds to buy life saving mosquito 🦟 nets at £5 each and desks that seat four children, for Good Luck Junior School at £25 each, I would be very grateful. Please get in touch if you can help in any way. Thanks to those who have already made donations. Several of you have taken up not sending Christmas cards and instead donating the savings made, as I’ve been doing for a few years now. It soon adds up! Sample photos of already donated desks and nets to follow.
Look forward to hearing from you and I’ll keep you updated as usual.
Bye for now.
Gerry
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