Helping Uganda Schools

Peter Mount. Small conversations to Big Actions

I have sad news. On Sunday 5th of March, the Founder of HUGS, a good friend to many of us and an inspirational leader Peter Mount died unexpectedly at home.  His departure leaves us with heavy hearts, reflecting on the how one man managed to change the lives of so many people. He championed the welfare of the vulnerable and leaves a profound legacy.

May his loving soul rest in peace.

Peter was an expert at turning small conversations into big action. This is how HUGS started. When Father John Kyazze was a visiting priest at Peter’s parish, in Stockport, they struck up a friendship and a powerful partnership.  One evening the conversation turned to the village where Father John was born and the plight of 9 children who were unable to go attend school because their families were too poor.  Peter organised a fund raiser, and within weeks the children’s education was secured.  In true ‘Peter style’, he didn’t stop there, and within two years Father John’s family had donated land and Peter raised funds for the first HUGS school to be constructed. St Zoes, (named after Father Johns mother) is now a beautiful, loving, safe school for 350 primary and secondary students. Its exam results are outstanding; its pupils lives improved by Peter’s passion and commitment. 

20 years later HUGS has built 7 schools, sponsored 100s of students and improved the education of 1000s.

The last school project, Peter championed was a special needs school, St Francis de Sales, in Jinja. The school has been open for 14 months and cares for some of the most vulnerable children in Ugandan society.  Where previously many of the children with disability were hidden away, receiving no education, they are now bright, loud, and carefree with a hunger to learn.  St Francis de Sales is still to be completed and Peter’s vision was for it to become a centre of excellence in Eastern Uganda in how to educate children who are unable to attend mainstream school.  Peter’s family have asked for this school to be the beneficiary of the Peter Mount Memorial fund. If you would like to contribute, please do so here.

https://gofund.me/8facb0ae

Thank you for everyone who has offered their condolences. Thank you for your kind words.