The Uganda Scouts Association

Infobox WorldScouting
name =The Uganda Scouts Association


image-size =
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owner =
age =
headquarters =
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country =Uganda
coords =
f-date =1925/1986
defunct =
founders =
founder =
award-for =
members =77,894
chiefscouttitle =Patron
chiefscout =Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
chiefscouttitle2 =Chief Scout
chiefscout2 =Manuel Pinto
chiefscouttitle3 =Chief Commissioner
chiefscout3 =Maggie Kigozi
website = [http://www.scouts.or.ug/ scouts.or.ug]
affiliation =World Organization of the Scout Movement
next =
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The Uganda Scouts Association is the national Scouting organization of Uganda. The Association became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1964. It serves 77,894 members (as of 2005).

History

Scouting was founded in British protectorate of Uganda in 1925. Church missionary Rev. Canon H.M. Grace was sent to Ankole in western Uganda to start Mbarara High School. He also started the first troop in Uganda. The movement took time to spread over the country during World War I, as the public thought Scouting was too military. In 1918, the Rev. Grace was transferred to Namirembe, where he started a second troop of Scouts.

During World War II, Scouts served their community by working in post offices sorting mail, directing traffic and other meaningful duties.

Until 1971, Scouting grew very popular in Uganda and membership was spread all over the country. This all came to a halt between 1971 and 1981, due to the political situation in Uganda. Scouting suffered again in 1985 due to the wars and instability in the country.

In 1986, Scouting resurfaced, and the Ministry of Education formally became the overseer of the Uganda Scouts Association. Although Scouting is a non-governmental organization, the Ugandan government has taken a keen interest in the movement. Unlike other countries, the Ugandan government has appointed a full time worker in every district, called district executive commissioners, to co-ordinate activities of the Scouts, in recognition of the immense contribution the movement can make in the rehabilitation process of Uganda.

Mottos

The Junior Scout Motto is "Be Prepared"; the Venture Scout Motto is "Look wide"; and the Rover Scout Motto is "Service". The Scout Motto is "Uwe Tayari", "Be Prepared" in Swahili.

Emblem

The Scout emblem of the Uganda Scouts Association features a Grey Crowned Crane, a symbol in use since Uganda was a colonial branch of British Scouting.

The UK Uganda Scout Network

The UK Uganda Scout Network is a forum where members of The Scout Association who are interested in promoting International Scouting and in particular with a specific interest in building friendships with the people of Uganda. Its aim is to bring together like-minded members of the Scout Association who have an interest in Africa, particularly Uganda, who wish to gain knowledge, exchange ideas and share experiences with each other.

The UK Uganda Scout Network provides an opportunity to expand International Scouting by raising awareness and promoting activities to support ideas and projects in the UK for members of the Uganda Scout Association and their communities.

So far Scouts have built a new training centre at the National Campsite, Kaazi. Venture Scouts have undertaken a ten year project to develop a plot of land at Buwenda, with the building of a training centre and camp site, known as the Baden-Powell Training Centre and Campsite, Buwenda, near Jinja. British Scouts have adopted a school in the slum area of Kampala, Bwaise, providing permanent classrooms and funding for child education. Scouts collected and transported a container full of educational resources enabling a library to be set up in a school in Iganga. A group of Explorer Scouts from Leicestershire built, in collaboration with local Scouts, two protected springs in the Busia district, repeat visits of this sort are planned.

ee also

*The Uganda Girl Guides Association

References

information obtained from The Uganda Scouts Association's first magazine

External links

* [http://www.scouts.or.ug/ official website]
* [http://ugandanetwork.org.uk/index3.htm UK Uganda Network]