A Good Nights Sleep in Uganda

How important is a good nights sleep for learning? According to research from all over the world, sleep increases a child’s ability to create short term memory and more importantly move it into permanent storage. Sleep boosts creative thinking and improves problem solving.

Therefore it is no surprise that HUGS has used donor funds to build dormitories, purchase beds, mattresses and importantly mosquito nets. In Uganda, a school with a dormitory means children don’t have to to walk long distances and arrive tired and girls can avoid being hassled or worse assaulted whilst they innocently make their way to receive an education.

Above is a photo of the dormitory at Little Shepherd School, Rutunguru.  It was constructed particularly for girls, allowing 120 to sleep in peace. It has solar lighting, so that students can read into the evening. Since it opened 4 years ago, academic performance at the school has improved.  It's been a day for 'spring cleaning' and washed mattresses and bedding are drying in the sun.

This is the largest dormitory which HUGS has funded at the Asili Girls school, Lira. Here, 200 secondary students can sleep safely. They have communal washrooms, laundry and bathrooms making a self contained living community. The head, Sr Veronika is so proud of the girls focus on education as they enter the school, and know that these facilities help them avoid external distractions and hardships.

And here is St Francis de Sales, where our latest dormitory has been built. It is designed with wheelchair users in mind and has a sick bay. This building is ‘home’ to 40 children with special educational needs. Recently HUGS supporters have bought new beds, mattresses, and mosquito nets, as most of the children come from families too poor to provide them with these essentials. 



These are the foundations for a second dormitory at Dokolo Girls School. Currently 50 girl students sleep on the floor of a classroom. They have poor access to water, washing facilities and privacy. To complete this building is one of the HUGS priorities for this year (at a cost of £13,000).  We are looking for a corporate sponsor to help us realise the school dreams of having a bed for every one of their students. Can you help?


A school in Uganda is a place of safety. A place where teachers and staff are responsible not only for the education of children, but also their nutrition, their health and their well-being. A good night sleep is an essential ingredient to this welfare. Thank you to all our supporters who have helped tuck these young people into a warm, clean and safe bed

Sharing the Joy

The HUGS Trustees trip to Uganda last month has filled us with joy and hope.  We are reminded of the dedication and personal sacrifice of our Trusted representatives and marvel at the tenacity of the organisations they work for, which we support.  We met with so many children who, with a little help from our donors, are surmounting great obstacles in life to learn, grow and have fun.

We’d like to share four highlights of our trip with you in the form of short videos.

The first shows the progress of the New Hope School, which will care for 300 children from the Kosovo Slum, Kampala. When you watch it, remember that most children have never been to the countryside and don’t have space to play.  The building work is going to plan, on time, and within budget.

During our visit, we presented a new football kit to the Girls football team at Dokolo School. Two years ago, the girls won the regional football championships playing barefoot in their school uniforms.  There’s nothing holding them back now so be prepared for more trophies.  The dances they perform are traditional Ugandan and celebrate the strength of woman. Very apt.

We met with 4 University students HUGS has sponsored who graduated in 2023/4. This video shows a short interview with Rita Kenyange, (MSc in Immunology and Clinical Microbiology), Tom Okade (Degree in Environmental Science and Public Health) and two newly qualified doctors, Michael Ssuuna and Paul Nsobani. All destined to become great leaders in their chosen fields. 

Finally, no one is excluded. We never cease to be amazed by the compassionate and inclusive thinking which makes St Francis de Sales such an inspirational school.  Every child has a disability and receives a bespoke, caring education from teachers, who themselves have overcome disabilities to become examples of what ca be achieved when people believe in your potential. 

Thank you for all your support.  None of this would be possible without your trust in our charity.  We hope you can share in the joy we have experienced first-hand.  We visit our projects every 18 months and are happy to take donors with us. 

Richard Bircher

HUGS Chair.    

First Hand

Tomorrow I will arrive in Kampala, to prepare for the HUGS Trustees trip to visit our schools and projects.  These trips are an essential part of the work of HUGS as they provide us with confidence that projects are being completed with honesty and care.  We can in turn give  first hand feedback to you, our donors.  Invariably we see the commitment and personal sacrifice made by our partners in Uganda.  Our school leaders, administrators, teachers, and development workers use the resources you donate, to make long lasting, positive change in the lives of so many children.  They make magic happen.

I am reminded that everything substantial we do, is made up of tiny victories.  Every wall starts with a brick, every well starts with a hole and every child who we sponsor has a first day in at school.  Here is Vivian, who in 2018 was identified as a child in need by Sister Noeline. She has this week completed her primary education with top marks in every subject and is looking for a sponsor to help her continue to learn in secondary school.  Primary school ‘top marks’ was an impossible objective before help was offered. Her single mother was too poor to afford a uniform and illness stopped her attending state school most days.

I found a letter from Vivian. Even at aged 8 she was motivated. ‘How are you? Here I am fine. My name is Nabbaale Vivian.  Live in Wakiso.I am in primary three I am promoted to Primary four. When I grow up in future, I will be a nun… I wish you a nice day, may god bless you Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.’

On this trip we will visit the New Hope School, where construction is ongoing with pace.  We will see the beautiful St Francis de Sales Special Needs School, with its new intake of 100 children, who would never have been able to attend school without the Director, Sebastian’s support.  We will also visit our two Girls secondary Schools, Asili and Dokolo, both in areas where less than 1:10 girls benefit from a secondary education.  These girls are the elite in both academic abilities and personal motivation.

We will update you as our trip unfolds.  Thank you for having faith and trust in the work of HUGS. If any donor would like any specific reassurances or would like to know anything about our projects please email us on hugs.chair@gmail.com

Thank you for your continued support.

Richard Bircher