Marilyn Allen and Rick Robertson presented on their trip to Uganda in July 2024, highlighting its history, economy, and social challenges, as well as showcasing exciting safari experiences with the ‘Big Five’ animals and cultural interactions with local communities. They also discussed their charity work in Kiryowa, where they plan to improve schools and support orphanages.
🗣️Marilyn and Rick’s Africa Presentation
- Introduction of Marilyn and Rick’s background
- Marilyn and Rick first met in 1978 while studying accounting at Clarkson Gordon and Company, now known as Ernst and Young.
- Marilyn was responsible for training Rick, leading to an initial dislike due to Rick’s difficult nature and aversion to auditing.
- After pursuing separate successful careers, they reconnected years later and renewed their friendship on a positive basis.
- Overview of their trip to Uganda and Zanzibar in July 2024
- The trip included visits to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where they learned about conservation efforts and the challenges of poaching.
- They engaged with local communities, including an orphanage, providing support and interacting with children to promote education.
- The travelers experienced Uganda’s rich natural beauty, including Murchison Falls and a safari, while reflecting on the country’s cultural and political landscape.
- Uganda’s history, economy, and challenges discussed
- Uganda has a complex history marked by periods of political instability, including the dictatorship of Idi Amin from 1971 to 1979, which led to widespread human rights abuses and economic decline.
- The economy is primarily based on agriculture, with over 70% of the population engaged in subsistence farming, but it faces challenges such as poverty, corruption, and a lack of infrastructure.
- Despite being rich in natural resources and having a young population that could drive growth, Uganda struggles with high levels of corruption and a perception of government inefficiency, which hampers development efforts.
- Comparison of Uganda’s GDP and corruption perception index with other countries
- Uganda’s GDP per capita is approximately $1,000, which is significantly lower than many countries, indicating a high level of poverty among its population.
- The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for Uganda is 142, suggesting a high perception of corruption within its government, ranking lower than countries like Canada (14) and the United States (24).
- In comparison, countries like Denmark rank highest on the CPI at 1, indicating a strong perception of government integrity and low corruption levels.
🦏 Wildlife and Safari Experience
- Visit to Siwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Safari experiences in various national parks
- Encounters with ‘Big Five’ animals: lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and water buffalo
🏞️ Lodging and Scenic Experiences
- Luxurious lodging experiences in national parks
- Scenic views and amenities at lodges
- Traditional sundowner experiences during safaris
👥 Village Visits and Community Projects
- Visit to Karamanjol village near Sudan border-very poor with not good agricuture
- Interaction with local communities and children
- Stay at Wild Waters Island Lodge
🏫 Charity Work and School Project
- Visit to Kiryowa village and girls’ orphanage
- Distribution of goats to families
- School improvement project funded by grant from the International Committee of our Rotary club used to furnish the school
- Brief visit to Zanzibar