Friday was a day of two extremes, panic and sadness to joy and celebration!
It was Innocents 33rd birthday but we weren’t going to celebrate his 33rd. Let me explain. Just before I returned home to UK in January 2020 he suggested that when I come to Uganda in 2021 we would celebrate 100 years, his 30th and my 70th! But of course Covid scuppered our plans. So plans were made for a belated 100th party this visit!
It doesn’t take long to arrange a party here and over breakfast Judith helped Innocent decide on food and of course beers and sodas, and calls were made to relatives and friends. Innocent went and sought out the produce including the borrowing of giant pans!

I had my breakfast then prepared for my first visit to Good Luck Junior School which I was so looking forward to as it had changed so much since 2020 when there was one very dilapidated and dangerous classroom and most lessons were taken under trees!

Then there was a panicked knock at my door. It was Judith telling me that Innocent had had a seizure whilst bathing. To those of you who are new to my story , he has Epilepsy.
Betty his wife, Judith and his friend and neighbour Richard and I think even Peter, ran to his aid after hearing the grunting noise he makes as he collapses. He was stuck fast in the narrow space of the small rough-brick cubicle, but they protected him from further harm and patiently waited for the attack to pass.
It really shook me and I felt and was, completely useless but the others knew how to help him both physically and emotionally. He’s so lucky to have such support around him. There are many in Uganda with epilepsy who suffer, hidden away by their families as there is still a stigma about it and many still think it’s to do with evil spirits, not daring to have an independent life as normal as possible as Innocent does. Though no one will employ him even though he has a degree. He and his family are wonderful. Of course there was no choice but to postpone my trip to school and cancel the party, or so we thought! After a rest Innocent proclaimed both would go ahead even though all of us were against the idea. He was so determined he was fine, and in fact claimed that too much rest during the day made him sick! He felt more disappointed that he’d had a seizure after being clear since August last year. So, though clearly suffering physically, his face and his back mainly, we set off to GLJS only a little later than planned.
All was quiet when we arrived as the children were in lessons. My intention was just to meet all the children and teachers and make plans for the following week. We also started giving out nets donated by Marton Primary in Macclesfield. Each class has raised funds for nets plus 14 individual children who had been doing their own fundraising for GLJS. I wanted to send them photos of the corresponding classes in Uganda. 🇺🇬 Marton school has supported my projects many times over the years, the most recent donating towards building the library and books.
Ibrihim took us around each class in turn with a few older pupils remembering me from 2020 and, I’m happy to say, only one child burst into tears in the ‘Baby Class’ (youngest pre-school)!

Alice & Theo grandchildren of one of my supporters had briefly exchanged letters and drawings with Safina & Sadat, two pupils at the school. As usual she made a donation and left the choice of use to me. When Ibrihim came to visit us the night before he informed me that only Safina had come to school this term as the parents could not find money for fees and other ‘requirements’. So my mind was made up that this term the balance of fees owed plus all their ‘requirements’ would be covered by this donation, and of course mosquito 🦟 nets. I’m sure the donor will be happy with that decision. We stopped to buy them on the way. For each child a ream of paper, two toilet rolls, pens, and manila papers for the teacher to make charts with, plus 15kg maize and 4kg of beans.
Leaving having promised to come back next week everyone was able to have their lunch which had been delayed because of our visit.
Enjoy the photos and video. Ask any questions about either if you wish.
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First day at Good Luck Junior School and saying thanks to Marton Primary in Macclesfield