Kumi, in the Teso region of eastern Uganda, is a small rural town where you will quickly be recognised and welcomed as a Mission Direct volunteer.  As one of the poorest districts in one of the poorest countries in the world, where most people earn income through labouring or subsistence farming, poverty is never far away. The warm welcome, infectious smile and generosity of the Teso people masks the legacy of years of civil unrest and the HIV/Aids epidemic. 

We have worked at Kumi Bazaar School building classrooms and homes for teachers from 2017 to 2021. In 2022 we started work on a new project at Kumi Primary School. This is a State Primary; however, it was founded by Missionaries at St Stephen’s Church in 1926. Some of the original buildings are still in use together with additional classrooms from 1980’s, which is when it was handed over to the Municipality. There are over 1,000 children at the school, and this will double over the next ten years. 

This will be our third year working at Kumi Primary School. In 2022 we relocated teachers who had been living in 8 of the classrooms into new homes and have undertaken a basic renovation to the old classrooms to make them fit for purpose. We have built two new classrooms in 2023 and in 2024 we will start work on a new two classroom block, to continue to increase capacity, reduce class sizes and create improved learning environments.

We have worked with a local firm of builders for nine years who know that volunteers really want to get their hands dirty and help. They will take pleasure in teaching you to lay bricks, plaster a wall, mix mortar and concrete.  In return they will want to know about you, your family and where you come from. Your builders will become a good friend as you will see them most days.

How physically demanding the work becomes is up to you – you are not expected to work flat out mixing concrete (probably the most physically demanding job) for four hours – although some enjoy the challenge.  There are always easier jobs to do – pace yourself and take breaks when you want to. You are there to help the builders, not to build the project single-handed. 

There is plenty of opportunity to get involved in the classrooms, perhaps teach a lesson if you wish; and to mix with the children at break times.

In the afternoons we work with our other partners. These visits will give you a wide range of different experiences where you will always make a positive contribution. 

These visits may include: 

•  Building a traditional village home for a vulnerable person in a rural community.

•  A visit to the Kumi Health Centre to deliver aid and perhaps meet some of the patients.

•  Organising craft activities and games with the pupils at a School for the Deaf or with the Compassion projects at Atutur and St Stephens in Kumi

•  Helping to lead worship and evangelism at Kumi Prison

• Classroom activities at a Kumi Primary School and maybe a challenge to a football, netball or volleyball match.

•  A ministry to the elderly of Kumi with Seeds of Hope or Kumi Mothers Union

The aid that you will be able to bring out with you will be sorted on your arrival in Kumi and taken with you on the work visits to the partners.

Although you will have a great time on the building site and partner visits, you will need some relaxation and Uganda has a lot to offer.

You may get the chance to experience some of the following activities, subject to the programme:

•  Experience a different type of worship at rural  PAG church on Sunday

•  Visit the 5000 year old rock paintings at Nyero

• Share “African Tea and Bites” at a fellowship evening.

•  Explore Kumi Town and the busy market and experience the friendship of the local people

•  Enjoy a meal in a local tin shack restaurant.

•  Round off your trip with some rest and relaxation which may include a visit to the source of the NIle at Jinja a stay in a resort hotel followed by a night at a Lodge and a boat trip in the Mbamba Swamp to see Shoebills. 

You will fly to Entebbe and on arrival you will be met by Mission Direct representatives who will manage your onward travel to Kumi. Depending on the flight arrival time you may travel direct to Kumi – about 7 hours or have an overnight in Entebbe or Jinja.  

Whilst in Kumi, a bus is our transport to the building site and for partner visits. Alex, our driver for the past nine years has become a full member of the team, doubling as a guide and interpreter.

Whilst the main roads are tarmac and largely in good condition, sections can be very rough. There are a few long journeys but these are through stunning Uganda countryside and there are stops along the way.

The climate in Kumi is very pleasant all year round. Short sleeves and long shorts are normal with temperatures in the high 20 º – a really good summer’s day back in the UK.  You may occasionally need to put on an extra top in the evening – especially when we travel north to Murchison. Climate change is affecting Kumi, as elsewhere, and you will need a waterproof as we can experience rain. There are sometimes short tropical downpours in the late afternoon or evening on occasions but these don’t usually affect our programme.

You will be staying at North East Villas in Kumi, on the edge of the town.  The guest house is basic but clean and comfortable and most rooms are en-suite with WC, hand basin and shower. Some rooms have separate but private facilities. All beds have mosquito nets and towels and soap is provided. 

Most volunteers feel the guest house is comfortable and they wouldn’t want anything more luxurious, bearing in mind where they are and who they are working with.

For your final night at Banana Village in Entebbe there is a full range of rooms, all en-suite, usually Wi-Fi and a swimming pool.

Ugandan food is quite bland with a lot of carbohydrate and you will get to taste posho, matoke, chapatti as well as rice and potatoes – known as “Irish”.  Meat will be goat and beef with occasional fish or chicken. We feel trying the local food is part of the experience, including a visit to a local “eatery”. Plenty of fresh fruit is available depending on what is in season and vegetables are fresh and plentiful.

Whilst in Kumi, in support of our partners we do not drink alcohol but it is available elsewhere

If you have any special dietary requirements or food allergies/intolerances, please let us know in advance. We will do all we can to accommodate these.

The currency is the Ugandan Shilling (Currently £1.00 = 4,500 UGX).  The staff team will be able to change sterling into shillings as necessary. Please bring good quality £10 & £20 notes unfolded if possible. 

You will not need to spend money on food and transport (except for the occasional soft drink or snack) as this is all included in the suggested trip contribution. However, you will need to bring money for church collection and any craft souvenirs that you may want to take back. 

It is well worth having some cash that you can have ready for ‘good causes’ that arise; it could be anything from buying a new pair of shoes for a homeless man to helping build a village house. However, anything you may wish to do, must be done with agreement of the Country Staff.

English and Swahili are the national languages, and around town many people will speak English. The local language is Ateso and in the rural communities this is often the only language, but we will have local partners to interpret where needed.

You may well have a generous baggage allowance and this gives you the opportunity to bring aid or useful gifts with you. We will tell you what would be gratefully received when you attend your orientation meetings.

The electricity supply is mostly reliable but there may be power cuts – however the Hotel has a generator that is used once it gets dark. There is a power socket (standard UK 13A plug) in your bedroom. Water in Kumi can be problematic; you will have running water in your bathroom. Depending upon your needs, bringing a hairdryer and small kettle (with tea bags) can be a great comfort! As some local appliances are imported and have two pins, a three to two pin adaptor can also be useful.

Your own phone will work, if roaming is activated, but this is usually expensive. Emergency calls may be made using a staff phone. There may be limited Wi-Fi in Kumi.

When you join a Mission Direct team you will meet people from a range of backgrounds. It is important that you come ready to be a team player. We work hard together and generally have a lot of fun doing so. Some of these ‘strangers’ may well become lifelong friends afterwards. Trips where people try to opt out and ‘do their own thing’ tend to be far less successful and enjoyable for everybody on the team; please bear this in mind. 

Mission Direct is a Christian organization and the Partner organizations that we work with are often, though not always, led by Christians. We are all on a life journey and are delighted to welcome people of any or no faith to join us. Typically we have short morning and evening reflections and on the trip you will visit a local church. We would like you to attend these aspects of the trip as part of the ‘teamwork’ ethos though there is no pressure for you to join in with the services, sing or pray if you don’t want to. The trips provide an eye-opening cross-cultural experience and are great fun. 

You don’t have to be particularly strong, able, young, old or skilled in building or DIY to join a Mission Direct trip. We will put you to suitable work pretty much whoever you are. Children under 18 are welcome as long as they are accompanied by at least one parent or adult “en loco parentis”. The youngest child to join us was 7 years old, the oldest person was 88. If you are deemed fit to join the team by your doctor, we will be glad to have you join us.

Sadly, there are accessibility issues for Mission Direct trips due to the nature of the country and, of course, the building sites. If you have a particular disability, please get in touch and we can discuss what is possible on this, or another Mission Direct trip.

Parts of the trip may be substantially different to your last visit. Prepare to do different things and meet new people, though you will probably also see some familiar faces too. Please allow those on their first trip to enjoy and experience each day as it unfolds, so avoid those ‘spoilers’ please!  

On 30 May 2023 an anti-homosexuality act was brought into law in Uganda. The act includes harsh prison sentences, and the death penalty in some cases, for same sex sexual activity and also the supporting or promotion of LGBT+ rights. Some of the language in the law is vague and open to interpretation and it remains unclear how this law will be implemented. Mission Direct does not comment on the laws of the countries in which it serves but does take its duty of care for volunteers seriously. Therefore, all volunteers are reminded of the need to comply with all Local Laws and Customs whilst in Uganda. If you have any concerns regarding this please contact Jackie Johnston on 01582 720056

7.30 am: Meet under the tree for Thought for the day

8.00 am: Breakfast

8.45 am: Depart for Kumi Primary School building site.

9.00am to 12 noon: (approx.) Bricklaying to build walls on the classrooms, shifting bricks, mixing mortar. (There are always lighter work options)

10.30 am to 11 am: School break – play with pupils, sew buttons on uniform 

12 noon: Return to North East Villas for lunch

12:30 pm: Lunch

1.45 pm: Depart for partner visit e.g. Ngora School for the Deaf

2.30 pm:  Arrive at Ngora, meet Head teacher and split into groups to see classroom work – get given your name in sign language and learn how to sign it.

3.00 pm: Meet together in hall to put on a drama, give a message and later organise craft and or sports activities for pupils 

4.15 pm: Depart from School

5.00 pm: Arrive back at North East Villas

5.00 pm to 7.00 pm: Free time; rest in room, read, explore Kumi 

7.00 pm: Dinner at North East Villas

7.45 pm: Reflections on the day and preparation for visits next day – if needed followed by Reflections on the day

9.00 pm: Close – socialise, bed etc.

To join us, you’ll be asked to cover the cost of your trip, which is calculated using the previous year’s volunteer numbers and the total cost of the campaign. We build in an assumption of being able to claim Gift Aid on 60% of all contributions. We rely on this to cover any cost variations and to keep the charity running so it is important that you Gift Aid your contribution if you can. 

Once your application has been accepted you will have the opportunity to set up a payment plan for your contribution. 

We ask you to fundraise for more than just the trip contribution to support building costs and help pay for materials and local labour. 100% of any extra funding, excluding Gift Aid, goes straight to the project.