2021 UPDATE

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Country

• The lock downs that Uganda faced as a result of COVID 19 included a restriction on travelling in which citizens were only allowed to bicycle or walk (no vehicles). This loosened in July 2020.

  • Public transportation was allowed to begin again in July but only going to districts which are not bordering to neighboring countries.

  • A curfew was established from 7:00 pm – 6:30 am. In July the curfew was adjusted from 9:00 pm – 5:30 am.  The curfew makes life difficult because they must walk many miles to get food and return home and many are unable to do this.  The people are finding the curfews unbearable.

• Many families were going without food because they could not reach the market or did not have money to purchase food. This caused many people to lose their jobs and were unable to provide food for the children.​

  • Many people began gardens – but they take time to grow. As a result, many have been going hungry and are malnourished.

• Domestic violence has become rampant and deaths have increased.

• Some areas of the country experienced drought while other areas were experiencing flooding.

  • People living near the rivers and lake shores have been displaced due to flooding.

  • The floating lakes in Lake Victoria have been moving and interrupting activities happening on the lake.​​

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education

• In March of 2020 – all children were sent home due to COVID 19 Government restrictions

• October 2020 

  • The government eased the lock down to Institutions (Academic schools, colleges and Universities) to finalist students (in Primary 7, Senior 4, finalist in Colleges in universities)

  • Re-opening of schools began October 15, 2020

  • The government instituted a compulsory condition that all finalist students (Primary 7, Senior 4, and Senior 6) must be in boarding scholars to avoid the spread of the virus by those coming from their homes

  • About 350 Students returned to Good Samaritan school

• March 2021

  • The government is opening to sub-candidate classes. The Good Samaritan Centre is expecting 400 more students to be able to come back to school

• November 2021​

  • Most of the children have been sent home through the summer and are now expecting to return to schooling and the Good Samaritan Center early in the new year.​

 

Covid 19 effect on Children

• In March 2020 when schools were required to close, many of the students could go home or to other family members although there were about 1000 students that are true orphans that did not have a place to return to. Many of the workers accepted these children into their personal homes.

• Steven & Precious Musisi took in 19 children and has been looking after them, in their home, for 12 months.

• The burden on the school staff workers has been great, as these children come from difficult circumstances and have extenuating needs. 

• On top of the extra needs, the workers must feed and clothe these children as well as their own children.

• Many families worked together to collect food and provide for these children.

• We pray that during this year God has been moving in the hearts of these “families” and has been able to show these children a positive home life environment.

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Good Samaritan Centre​

• There has been a lot of concern for the children who were sent home from the Good Samaritan Centre (GSC). Throughout the last year many of the teachers and workers from the Good Samaritan Center went to the many villages, on bicycle to see how the students were doing.

• The teachers saw the devastation, heard the reports and listened to families in the communities begging for help.

• The teachers decided to help where they could by purchasing corn flour, beans and soap for washing to help these people.  Cleanliness is important to reduce COVID 19 and other illnesses.

• Upon delivering to the villages they took the opportunity to speak to the children and provide some learning while trying to encourage them and to keep up their desire for school.

• The families that took in these extra children were also being helped with food and anything that was available.

• As a result of the ongoing commitment Southland Church has with the Good Samaritan Center, it is one of the few schools in Uganda that can open and receive the children. Here are just a few of the areas Southland Church is involved in and is making a huge difference:

  • For the students that are returning back to the schools, the housing arrangements have had to adhere to new physical distancing and sanitation guidelines. With Southland's uninterrupted support, BBT was able to construct additional dormitories and required sewage system so they can immediately accommodate these requirements. The new dorm has been named Tupendane Dormitory!

  • Clean water projects and waste water have been upgraded to ensure they meet the required cleaning protocols.

  • Because most people lost their jobs and subsequent paychecks, many cannot afford the school fees. These fees typically provide the funds for books, teacher salaries, and two meals daily. The meals provided by GSC are often the only meals the children get and this is made possible by the monthly support by Southland. BBT is not dependent on these school fees so many of the orphans, pastor’s children and poor local children from the slums of Kampala are able to return.

  • Nutritional and medical needs; after many years of supporting and teaching mechanical farming methods by Southland MPL volunteers, the Good Samaritan Centre now is completely self-reliant for food needs. Alex Mitala is relentless in his thanks to Southland Church for the gift of not having to ask for assistance. Because of this food bounty, BBT can now afford medical supplies and staff to help the sick children.

  • It is no small miracle The Good Samaritan School can open and provide the needs for the children. It is because of Southland’s generosity and gracious support to help them that they have been able to make it through this difficult and challenging year.

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Kingdom Farm

• Harvest - January 2021

  • The BBT farmers wanted to complete the harvest on their own, without asking Southland for help because they wanted to demonstrate harvest self-sufficiency. They completed the harvest and did a fantastic job!

  • Harvest of human consumption corn

    • Due to wet conditions, the season began with a late planting. The previous harvest was only completed in late August and they planted the next crop at Kingdom Farm 1 in the middle of September 2020. Some of the challenges they were working with included:

      • Very little weed control

      • Poor seed quality

      • Minimal fertilizer

      • Use of non-genetically engineered seed

      • A group of younger and less experienced farm hands

  • They achieved a harvest of 52 Bushels per acre

    • For many seasons Kingdom Farm 1 was left fallow to allow the soil to re-gain some natural fertility because the performance of all crops was very poor.

    • After a period of time BBT began re-testing it and also introducing artificial fertilizers.

    • According to BBT Field Supervisor, the performance of the corn crop was much improved compared to how it was prior to fallow and fertilizer.

    • The latest harvest of 50 acres is the best harvest that has been achieved since Southland has been working with them.

    • The harvest produced 650 bags of 100 kgs = 13 bags / acre

• Planting Feb 2021

  • About 65 acres have been planted Kingdom Farm 2

  • Disking continues at Kingdom Farm 1 to prep for the next planting season

  • The plan is to have 150 acres planted in season 1 – Feb 2021 – Aug 2020