Four weeks ago – on April 16, 2026 – we celebrated a tiny milestone in world history. But it was not so small in the West Nile region of Uganda, where over a thousand participants gathered in Parombo Sub-County (municipality) in Nebbi District to celebrate the graduation of adult literacy education – over a period of 25 years! From the beginning of UPLIFT in 2001, approximately 3 out of 4 of them were women. Over the past three years, over 9 out of 10 have been women. With the Norad/Fokus-funded women’s health project ‘UPLIFT Women in West Nile’, the number of learners educated per year (now 4,000 +) has more than doubled. After 25 years, the historic ‘UPLIFT family’ numbers more than 40,000!
A historic threesome, incidentally, in this photo: Hizzaya Hissani (forever), current chairwoman Florence Alimundo, and George Okwai, one of the first coordinators of the UPLIFT/Norad project in 2007-09.
Most of this was known to you who read the member letters. But this time the report from “Graduation” will be a bit different than in previous years. What’s unusual is the anniversary. The board of friends of UPLIFT considered the occasion suitable for presenting a special gift. At first there was talk of an extra large and handsome banner for use at the anniversary. But after we learned at the end of last year about a surprisingly large grant and, at the same time, a new UPLIFT target not included in the Focus/UPLIFT budget, the board raised the bar.
The grant: There is a scheme called “VAT compensation for voluntary organisations”. The background and rules are a bit complicated, so if you’re curious you can google this website:
The FUP board was made aware of this opportunity and submitted an application. It was granted, with (- hold on tight -) almost NOK 90,000. Thus the VUP board could decide to give a gift, earmarked for the purpose; they ‘cautiously’ decided half the amount – NOK 45,000!
The target: Six months ago, UPLIFT received a large contribution from a Ugandan-Canadian family to purchase a property, a rural plot of land in excess of a quarter acre southeast of Nebbi Town, with a view to the future construction of an UPLIFT office and training center. (In all these years, UPLIFT has had to rent rooms in various locations in the counties, without a permanent center). At the turn of the year, UPLIFT opened a bank account for a ‘building fund’. This is definitely a purpose we can support!
A symbolic ‘cheque’ for 17 million Ugandan shillings.
Back to the ceremony: This secretary (above) was thus able to present a symbolic ‘cheque’ for 17 million Ugandan shillings. Whereupon our Canadian UPLIFT friends present followed up and pledged another large amount, and the head of the Ugandan Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU) jumped up from his chair and promised another 3 million shillings! UPLIFT director Mark Ssemukasa then took the microphone and added that a ‘pledge form’ had been just prepared – freely available to anyone for individual pledges of contributions.
During this ‘donor ceremony’, it is appropriate to say that the cheers raised the roof/tent!
[Please note: The story above is ‘earmarked’ for this target, but should not deprive UPLIFT’s friends of the joy of continuing to contribute individually – toward this fund or other needs.]
On our way back from the ‘Party in Parombo’ we – Mark and Hizzaya and friends of UPLIFT – made a stop to take a look at the new land, a gentle slope on the high side of the main road. Excitedly, we followed Mark and walked around the entire perimeter through the tall grasses while the sun was quickly setting in the clouds over Nebbi.
A new, separate ‘UPLIFT House’ is already under optimistic planning and design.
On UPLIFT ground! At the ‘north edge’, two Canadian friends of UPLIFT, John Anglin og Sylvia Walters
Is it all ‘just gold and green forests’? Yes, almost, but daily challenges continue for the five coordinators, four midwives and a hundred mentors scattered across wide ‘UPLIFT territory’. In addition to the one hundred village classes that meet twice a week, some five hundred girls will assemble in schools for orientation on ‘women’s health’ and HPV vaccination (even this year sponsored by Africa Action Network).At the time of writing, UPLIFT, in collaboration with the municipalities’ development officers, is finishing its annual ‘recruitment’ in new village areas for this year’s literacy and SRHR courses. [ Don’t remember the abbreviation? ]
As the Norad/Fokus/UPLIFT project enters its 4th project year, we say ‘Congratulations on the 25’ and, in Alur: anyím mabér – wishes for a good future, for UPLIFT.
Best regards, on behalf of the Board of Friends of UPLIFT
Gunnar Lange-Nielsen
(secretary)
