Some of you may remember the Hampshire Scout Expedition to Uganda in 2000. Since then, we have maintained close ties with the region. In recent weeks, trouble has flared up in nearby Kenya and we have heard from the Ugandan Scouts of the hardship they are facing. Please take a read for how you may be able to help...

Building the Ugandan Links Hampshire Scouting's connections with Scouts in the Mbale region in South-Eastern Uganda started in 2000 when, as part of the Uganda 2000 expedition, several parties of UK Scouts visited the region to climb Mount Elgon, a 14,000 ft mountain on the border between Uganda and Kenya. Many members of the Hampshire contingent, based in Masindi, in North-Western Uganda were amongst the first of the teams to visit Mbale and climb Mount Elgo.  Although Mbale was not one of the towns in which UK contingents were based, we were very warmly greeted by the town and its Scouts and several of us resolved to return to Mbale. We did so in 2003. Since 2000 the Mbale District has been subdivided and the new districts of Sironko and Manafwa have since been created, so our Mbale Scout contacts from 2000 are now distributed amongst these 3 new smaller Districts. In 2006 a party of Hampshire Scouts again visited Masindi and several of us made the trip across the country to climb Mount Elgon and to visit the Scouts of the Sironko District. The Current Situation Following the disputed elections in Kenya in December 2007, violence broke out in several parts of that country, notably in the Rift Valley. About 1000 people are understood to have been killed, including many children, some of whom were Scouts. A group of about 70 refugee Scouts from Naivasha fled to Uganda and arrived in Sironko on 28th January. That group has since grown considerably. The Scouts of Sironko are helping them. They are being assisted by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees but more help is needed. The refugees fled for their lives, taking nothing with them. There are now approximately 2000 Kenyan refugees in the eastern counties of Uganda and the local Scouts are working together with the aid agencies to organise support for them. How can you help?  We can help by sending secondhand clothing, particularly children's clothing.   Parcels should be sent to "Elgon Scouts of Uganda, PO Box 1664, Mbale, Uganda". Use of the International Signed-For service is recommended.   The Leader's name is Dongo Aramathan. (Ugandans write their family name first). Some images from Uganda (more in the Gallery)

Related items: Related links: Uganda Expedition Website How the news was reported on CNN

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