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Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains

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As ROWAN is located in Uganda, we enjoy sharing interesting things about the country with our readers. This is an incredibly diverse equatorial land with a huge variety of flora & fauna. Uganda is also home to the tallest mountain range in Africa, the Rwenzori Mountains, or the legendary Mountains of the Moon.

Rwenzori Mountains

About Rwenzori

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park is roughly 385 square miles in western Uganda & encompasses most of the Rwenzori mountain chain (including Africa’s third highest peak, Mount Margherita). The range’s glaciers, waterfalls & lakes make it one of the loveliest alpine areas in Africa. All of these stunning views, just a few miles from the equator!

Amazing Vegetation

Because of their altitudinal range, consistent temperatures, humidity & high level of insolation, the Rwenzori mountains supports a rich variety of unusual flora. This includes many natural habitats of endangered species that can be found nowhere else.

Vegetation in Rwenzori Mountains

Creating the Nile

The Rwenzori Mountains are not only the highest in Africa, but they are also the source of the historic Nile river. These rugged mist-shrouded mountains tower more than 13,000 feet above the Albertine Rift Valley, making them visible to far away eyes. This combined with their extreme abundance of life is perhaps whey they are called Mountains of the Moon.

Come See Uganda

Want to see the Rwenzori Mountains with your own eyes? Come visit us at ROWAN & learn even more about the lovely country of Uganda.

Exciting Agriculture Update!

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In Uganda, the District Agricultural officer is a government position. The officer who works in the ROWAN area is named Peter.  His job in the district is to empower people with modern productive methods in agriculture and appropriate technologies. Peter is a young man who fell in love with ROWAN this past year. You can see him in the photo below at the annual Christmas party passing out solar light kits.  He is amazed at the impact ROWAN is making in the community. He was singing a song to Pastor Paul that said “I want to work with you, I want to work with you!”

District Agricultural Office Paul with Pastor handing out solar light kits!

He has promised 5,000 chickens and 500 cassava seeds to give out across our 30 villages. ROWAN will divide them across our zone leaders and identify potential beneficiaries to receive these chickens and cassava. As people pray for ROWAN, we don’t always know how God will provide.  Since Peter’s job is to help and train the people in agriculture, he saw that ROWAN was already on the ground doing just that.  He wants to help and provide resources and this is huge! We are grateful to God and all those in the villages and across the world who pray for ROWAN. This is a tangible blessing—please thank God with us.  C.S. Lewis said, in his book Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer:

“Gratitude exclaims… ‘How good of God to give me this.’ Adoration says, ‘What must be the quality of that Being whose far-off and momentary coruscations are like this!’ One’s mind runs back up the sunbeam to the sun.” 

How to Behave in Uganda

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As ROWAN is in Uganda, we thought it would be interesting to share some of the local Ugandan customs with our readers. This is an amazingly diverse country, from tribes to wildlife it has a great deal to offer those lucky enough to visit.

Amazing Place to Visit

Uganda sees over 800,000 tourists each year, their many bodies of water, friendly people & diverse wildlife calling visitors from around the globe. Ugandans often refer to foreigners in their country as mzungu. While the official languages of Uganda are English & Swahili, a wide variety of languages & dialects are spoken throughout the country.

A Few Social Graces

Here are seven bits of advice for visiting an incredibly friendly country. 1. Keep your hands to yourself – Public displays of affection are frowned upon by Ugandan locals. 2. Proper greeting – When greeting a Ugandan, it is impolite to simply say ‘hi’. ‘How are you’ is a much more appropriate greeting. 3. Watch your hands – Pointing is considered an insult in Uganda (true of many African countries). When necessary to point, the whole arm should be used for the gesture. 4. Stay laid back – Punctuality is not an important trait to the Ugandans. it isn’t uncommon for them to be (very) late for a meeting. 5. Watch your step – Be sure to look both ways before crossing the road in Uganda, pedestrians do not have the right away on the streets. 6. Practice modesty – Women in Uganda are expected to wear dresses that cover their legs to maintain modesty. 7. Dress for the occasion – The men in Uganda always wear trousers, no matter the temperature. Young boys (& foreign men) may wear shorts without breaking local norms.

Learn More

To learn more about life here or plan a trip to this amazing country visit Ugandan Tourism Board.

Meet Brenda: the new “Miracle Overseer”

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It’s simple. If the birth of a new human being is a miracle, and a midwife oversees the birth, then midwives should not merely be called “midwives,” but rather “Miracle Overseers.” Considering the diligent and self-sacrificial care of Brenda Musubika, ROWAN’s newest midwife, even this enhanced title of “Miracle Overseer” may not do justice!

Brenda, who is now 25-years old, graduated with her certificate in “Miracle Overseeing” (a.k.a. Midwifery) from the International Institute of Health Sciences in 2017.  After graduating, she worked at the New Hope Hospital in Iganga, Uganda for a year before moving to the Joy Medical Center in Kampala, Uganda, where she served for the past two years before joining ROWAN.

Now, Brenda has come to Mawanga, alongside her husband and little girl, to look after all the new and expecting mothers in our community. This is no small task. Last year alone, over 100 babies were born under the Hope Clinic’s care! Central to her role, Brenda visits women at their homes to ensure that they can supply their babies with adequate breastmilk. When new mothers struggle to produce milk or cannot do so at all, ROWAN provides formula to prevent malnourishment. 

Today, formula is a pressing need in the ROWAN community. In fact, it was just last summer that the ROWAN staff discovered Bruno, an emaciated 9-month old boy, who was living with his uncle and grandparents after his mother suddenly passed away. The family had no means of supplying breastmilk and they could not afford the price of formula. ROWAN tried to intervene in Bruno’s sickness, but the provision of formula came too late. Bruno died 2 months later as a result of the irreversible damage caused by his malnourishment …  

We lost a child whose inmost being was created by God – whom God knit together in his mother’s womb. We lost a person that was fearfully and wonderfully made.

Malnourishment should no longer be the cause of this.
Will you help us make that possible?

As Brenda outreaches to the community, you can help us enable her with formula, which is rich in the irreplaceable nutrients needed by the newest members of our ROWAN family. If $50/month is all it takes to supply a newborn with formula, Bruno would have grown into a strong and healthy little boy with $600 in care for his first 12 months.

Our vision is to see that the joy of bringing a new child into the world outweighs its dangers and the sorrows of its loss. With Brenda joining our team, we are hopeful for a future in which the promises of the Lord may be realized time and time again: 

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” -Psalm 127: 3

“He gives to the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!” -Psalm 113:9

Nsenene – Uganda’s Favorite Snack

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As ROWAN is in Uganda, we have begun to share more about the country with our readers. This is an amazingly diverse land with a huge variety of animal & plant life to learn about. But today we will be talking about something a little different, a favored snack food during the rainy season, nsenene.

Fried nsenene, a favorite Ugandan snack food (Image courtesy of Erinamukuta).

A Rainy Day Snack

Nsenene is the Luganda name for bush cricket or katydid (often incorrectly called grasshoppers), the name refers to both the insect & the crispy treat. Usually only available for several months a year when they come out during the rainy season (May & November).

A Fair Trade

At the start of the wet season, nsenene hunters set up traps made for their tiny prey. At the end of the day, hunters sell their captured katydids to street vendors & hawkers. During this time of the year, vendors will set up along the roadside daily to sell their harvest. 

Katydid, field cricket or nsenene.

Make Your Own

If you want to try this treat for yourself, the process is incredibly easy: 1. Collect or purchase your field crickets/ katydids. 2. Clean your nsenene first by rinsing them under cold water & pat dry with a paper towel. Then pluck off wings & legs. 3. Fry them with onion, chili, garlic or other spices to taste. The nsenene secrete oil from their abdomen, making them an affordable snack as they don’t require additional fat for cooking. 4. Pat dry with a paper towel & enjoy some traditional Ugandan street food!

Come Try it in Uganda

Why not come try this snack on the streets of Uganda? To learn more about tourism to the country visit Ugandan Tourism Board.

Jambo! International Mother Language Day

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This week, on February 21, it is INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY. This day was approved by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) General Conference and has been celebrated GLOBALLY since 2000, for twenty

“Understanding why and how languages differ tells about the range of what is human,” said Dan Jurafsky, the Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor in Humanities and chair of the Department of Linguistics in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford. “Discovering what’s universal about languages can help us understand the core of our humanity.”

What is the language of Uganda?

Luganda, a Bantu language, is the common national language of Uganda. Wikipedia tells us it is spoken by more than eight million Baganda and other people principally in central Uganda, including the capital Kampala.

From Volunteertherealuganda.com: “Luganda is one of the main languages spoken in Uganda. It is the language of the Baganda tribe. While there are over 50 languages in Uganda, Luganda is by far the most widely spoken in the south central region.  The Kingdom of Buganda stretches from Lyantonde in the west to the River Nile in the east.  Luganda is a musical language that is spoken rather slowly. It’s not at all like English.”

In the areas that ROWAN serves, Lusoga is the regional language.

From Wikipedai:
“Lusoga (Soga) is a tonal Bantu language.  It is the native language of people who are indigenous/originally from the Busoga region. In terms of the number of speakers, is one of the major languages spoken in Uganda, after English, Swahili, and Luganda. However, it is mainly spoken in the Busoga region of southern Uganda by + 3 million people (2007 census).  It is tonal in the sense that a given word can change its meaning depending on its tone, i.e. some words are differentiated by pitch. Words that are spelled the same may carry different meanings according to their pitch. Lusoga is rich in metaphors, proverbs and folktales.”

Language and communication are foundational and fascinating for understanding one another.  God chose to create a multitude of diverse people and languages. When entering another’s language, it helps us to slow down and listen to one another. We stumble along together, until we are hearing each other. Learning from each other brings us together. 

“He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:14

If you find yourself in Uganda visiting ROWAN, here are some of the common phrases you will definitely hear:

Jambo!                              Hello
Welaba!                            Goodbye 
Mukama Yebizibwe      Praise the Lord
Yesu                                  Jesus
Catonda                           God

Rolex Uganda Style

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When we say rolex, most of the world thinks of an expensive timepiece. In Uganda, however, it makes people’s mouth water & has absolutely nothing to do with time (unless, of course you have to wait for them to cook). In Uganda a rolex is a savory snack which consists of an omelette with onion & veggies rolled in a chapati, yum! Today we will teach you how to make your very own rolex.

Humble Beginnings

This tasty snack comes from the Busoga region where a creative chapati maker began selling the portable, affordable meal fairly high in nutrition. It soon spread to Wandegeya where Makerere University students quickly fueled further growth, enjoying them at all times of the day. Since then it has become a common food country wide & today there is even a festival celebrating them (last year it was in August).

Variations

With any popular food, variations always arise & the rolex is no exception. The name rolex comes from the rolling of the omelet & chapati, but here are a few variations you may want to try as well. Titanic A traditional rolex with two or more chapatis. Kikomando In this version the chapati is sliced & combined with beans. This name comes from commando soldiers who had to eat quickly in the field.

Rolex Ingredients

This is for one rolex roll. The amounts are not exact & we’ve added several different veggie options. As there are so many possible variations, make your omelet to taste. 1 Chapati (cooked) 2 Eggs Tomatoes Onions Cilantro Green cabbage (sliced thin) Carrot (cut into thin strips) Spring onions (diced) Green chillies (diced) Pinch of salt 2 tablespoon vegetable oil

Rolex Instructions

Combine & whisk eggs, veggies & salt until well mixed. Pour vegetable oil onto a heated non-stick pan, then add egg mixture. Let cook until underside is golden brown, then flip & cook the other side. Lay chapati on a plate & add the cooked omelet on top, then roll & serve!

More Recipes

Be sure to check out our recipes for matooke, nsenene & millet bread, plus stay tuned as we will be sharing more Ugandan recipes!

Uganda’s National Animal – Uganda Kob

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As ROWAN is in Uganda, we thought it would be fun for our readers if we shared more about the country. This is an amazingly diverse country with a huge variety of animal & plant life worth learning about.

Uganda’s national animal.

The National Kob

As the national animal of Uganda, the kob appears on their coat of arms, along with the crowned crane.

Uniquely Routine

Kobs eat short grass, which forces them to rely on larger grazers cropping the land first to create their ideal grazing conditions. In part because of this behavior, they develop attachments to specific locations & following grazing/ watering patterns every season.

Kob Facts

The kob social structure is formed of small herds that come together with larger groups (sometimes in the 1000’s) from time to time. Over an average lifespan of 20 years, kobs return every season to the same breeding grounds (called leks). Some of the leks have been in use for over 50 years. Unfortunately Uganda kob grazing lands are also favorable for farming & like much Ugandan wildlife, kobs find themselves in competition with people & agriculture.

Learn More

To learn more about this lovely animal, get involved to help them or plan a trip to Uganda visit the Uganda Wildlife Authority or the Uganda Wildlife Education Center.

Ivan’s Wedding!

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“I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it.” – The Pointer Sisters (2008)

Fewer lyrics could better describe Ivan Kirunze, ROWAN’s faithful literacy teacher, and his radiant bride on their Big Day. In Ugandan culture, men do not typically smile during their weddings, but clearly, nothing could wipe the smile from this man’s face!

 Minutes before the wedding ceremony begins, Ivan beams with joyful anticipation.

Despite their culturally-rebellious grins, the couple followed the extravagant pre-wedding tradition known as “Introductions.” At this ceremony, hundreds from the community gather to witness the man arrive at the woman’s home and formally ask for the parent’s blessing. In seeking their favor, he will bring a generous dowry of goats, cows, and/or fresh produce. But he can only ask for her hand if he can find her …

Amidst the humming fervor of the crowd, the man and the emcee of the event desperately search for the woman as one might search for the cartoon in Where’s Waldo? Upon her discovery and the family’s acceptance of the proposal, the rest of the night is filled with jubilee.

 Ivan unites with his stunning bride at the “Introductions” ceremony.

Isn’t it a beautiful thing to see a groom with unabashed love for his bride? Isn’t it incredible that Christ loves us, the Church, with the same passion? The Word of God tells us that …

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy … and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless … For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church.” – Ephesians 5:25-32

Congratulations to the newlyweds! May God bless you with ever-deepening joy for each other and for Him!

Five Decades for WAFU!

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His friends and family call him Wafu and he just turned 50 years old (young)!

David Wafula has been with ROWAN since the beginning. He is a full-time staff member and board member.  Here are his thoughts on turning 50:

“I can’t believe I am making 50 years of age… my evening is approaching. Making 50 years in Uganda [while] healthy, happy, and impacting others is a huge blessing.”

When asked about his goals, he said, “I have two words that keep sounding in my mind: STABILITY and PERFECTION. This year I have to stabilize and perfect most of the things that I put my hands on. Ministry-wise and family. This year, I want to inspire many and disciple many in the ministry of ROWAN. At 50, you can be trusted but also entrusted.”

“This year is a year of looking back and making evaluations. During this process, I am sure I will [recall] areas I have done well but also improve those areas I have not done well.”

ROWAN is so blessed by Wafu’s wisdom, perseverance, and his wonderful laugh. Join us in wishing him a very happy 50th birthday!

If you’ve met Wafu, please comment with any stories or memories you have with him!