February 15 - March 2026 Uganda

 

 

 Military / Police Officers

In my first blog, I forgot to mention the unmistakable presence of the military police officers. They appear to be quite intimidating, dressed all in black fatigues and carrying what appears to be an AK-47. They were at the airport, at the driveway to our hotels and at the wildlife center that we went to etc.

They are primarily from the Counter-Terrorism (CT) unit of the Uganda Police Force. 

The military does not formally run the Uganda Police Force, but it heavily influences and often operates alongside it. 

Security

*Karamoja is considered a high risk area by most Ugandans and by the U.S. Embassy. This is because of thepractice of raiding for cattle. Since the Ugandan government began removing guns from civilians in 2006-2011,raiding has decreased drastically and is not an immediate threat to the missionaries.However, since Karamoja is still very rural, the mission takes a number of precautions to minimize general risk.They do not travel at night. They have night guards on all mission compounds.There are six day shift guards and six night shift guards, two for each compound. The security guards are armed withbow and arrows. The compounds are secured by a fence with barbed wire on top. There are two dogs in the compound.

* From the Karamoja handbook

One afternoon at 5:15 I heard a lion roaring!!!  The security picked up their bows and arrows and were looking at the horizon. A lion’s roar can be heard for 5 miles. 

Hired Workers from nearby villages

Local Karamojongs from nearby villages have been hired by the mission to work in the compound.

The men start each morning with “gait devotions,” led by a Timothy student. Sometimes Jeff leads the devotions.

You'll notice that I spell Karamojongs in different ways. I've looked at different sources and it is spelled in a variety of ways. Perhaps because there is no formal education for the Karamojong language, like we have in the English language.

Those that are hired are required to attend devotions. Some of them are members of the church.

These are some of the jobs that they are hired to do for the mission:

Security

Cook lunch (Rice & beans Mon. Wed. Fri.)

Laundry

Clean homes

Cut grass

Trim trees

Water plants

Till soil

Plant gardens

Help with repairs, maintenance, etc. 

One of the women (Acia Rose) does our laundry for us three times a week. The women wash our clothes with a scrub brush, using a garden hose and a large bucket. That felt very unnecessary to me, but it provides income for women who are raising their children by themselves.  During rainy season we often have to run out and get our damp laundry off the line, before the downpour, then find a place inside where we can hang it. If we left damp laundry out all night, there would be mango worms on them. 

Another woman, Onyong Esther, makes tortillas for us on Mondays and sweeps and mops the floors on Wednesdays.  

Both of them have children to support. When they aren't working for any of us, they work in the field, planting vegetables.  

Sundays

Mountains provide a beautiful backdrop for the Nakaale Presbyterian Church. The service lasts about 2 hours.

Tambourines and a drum accompany the songs that are in both Karamjong and English. The services are in English with a Karamojong translator. People in Uganda who go to school are taught English starting in the 4th grade. Even then, I find their accent hard to understand.

Walking back from church, we often share the path with cows.

Walking back from church, we often share the path with cows.

Work Project:  Solar water heater

Travis, Ben & Jeff worked on the solar panel by welding a frame for the solar panels and using bricks and cement, they made it so the frame holding the solar panel would sit at the right angle to catch the most sun.

Making a frame for the solar panel.

Making a frame for the solar panel.

The quality control team is appreciated too!

Work Project:  Storage units for clinic. They put a new roof on and later will do more work on it. There were 2 semi trailers that were delivered.  They need a new metal roof,   flooring replaced, and leaks repaired.

Prayer Request: Pray that we will be content in all circumstances, helpful, and encouraging to the mission team and that we will grow in our love for God and neighbor.    

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6

Jeff & Gloria Davis