I was born and brought up in Uganda (Mbarara) from 1944 to 1954 as my parents were teaching at Mbarara High School. Roger and I went to live and work in Kabale for four years from 1969, travelling out with our first baby, Peter. Tessa was born in Kampala seven months after our arrival. We had to leave in a hurry at the end of 1972 when the British Government withdrew all its employees because of the dangerous situation caused by Idi Amin.

Since 1989, I have been deeply involved in Teso (a region in north eastern Uganda) in a variety of ways and now have many close friends there, as well as several ‘homes’ with families who have given me a strong sense of belonging. So although my earlier part of life was spent in south western Uganda, Teso is where I actually feel my home is in Uganda.

My first home, and first family, are all in the UK, in the East Midlands.

From 1992 until the Covid pandemic in 2020, I visited Teso about once (or even twice) a year, usually taking other people with me. I always write a diary whilst in Teso for those back home who are interested. However, only the more recent DIARIES (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023-24) are on my website.

I visited Uganda for the final time from 26th December 2023 to 25th January 2024. As I get older and more frail, and the cost of travel insurance is prohibitive over 80, I decided I need to go back one last time to say goodbye to my many close friends and special places. There was also a very special event to celebrate 20 years since I started Teso Educational Support Service (TESS) in January 2004, with several hundred young women and men who were sponsored through post-primary education and are now qualified, working and bringing up their own families. It has been agreed with my family and closest friends in Teso that when I die, half my ashes after cremation will be taken to Teso by some of my family for burial there, the other half remaining in England. As in life, so after death, I will be split between two homes!

Go to CRISIS IN UGANDA for information about the serious violations of human rights and the breakdown of democracy connected with the Presidential Elections held on 14th January 2021 and again on 15th January 2026. Follow the links on that page for further news and details of actions you can take.

For general information about Uganda, click HERE.