Project Uganda was originally set up in 2000 as a Millennium project aimed at raising funds for Uganda, over a five year period. The project was initially linked with a charity in Coventry called Global Care, who were looking for someone to adopt and take on a project supporting the development of a vocational training centre in Rukungiri, south-west Uganda. Global Care already had strong well established links with a Ugandan couple; John and Alice Tumusiime who were running Gables Vocational Training Centre. During the development of the project Global Care gave us a free reign and we were lucky enough to very quickly form our own strong links with Rukungiri and the locals sharing our passion for the development of Gables Vocational Training Centre. Our initial target was to raise £5,000 per year, however, with the continued support of local people we have been raising an average of £7,500 per annum.
It soon became apparent that there was a shared passion and enthusiasm for the work being done by Project Uganda and so as more funds came into the charity we began to expand our portfolio of projects to include Teacher sponsorship, Teacher training, student scholarships, business development, washroom construction, mosquito net installation and agricultural training and perma-culture projects.
Over the years we have held a variety of fund raising events, including dinner dances, casino evenings, barn dances and running stalls and attending events selling Ugandan crafts, which are always well supported. Other sources of income include individual supporters who donate on a regular basis, village groups, corporate sponsors and the Gift Aid scheme where we are able to claim a substantial amount of tax back annually.
