August Update from Sabina

It’s dry, dry, dry at Sabina these days despite heavy rain recently in Kyotera and Masaka. Occasionally dark clouds tease us with the idea of rain but then they move elsewhere.

We are feeling a little dry ourselves on the project with some hassles around the building project and a shortage of labour for the veggie garden. But we are regrouping, planning and expecting a break in the drought soon [stay tuned!]

Kim and Clive have moved into their banda accommodation which is very comfortable, cool and perfectly located near the boarding house (but not too near!). The concrete floor is still sweating so we can’t place mats on the floor or put our suitcases under the bed, but it’s just a matter of time. We’re having a ball sitting on our ‘private’ verandah at the back doing our latest craze of cooking mountains of popcorn with lots of salt, yum.

The second banda requires only ten more days of work to be completed and it is now long past its due finish date so we’re keen to see it finished. Unfortunately the main roofer fell off the roof a couple of weeks ago and broke his arm! (The steep pitch of the roof is proving to be a little intimidating to some of the local roofers). We are confident that this banda will provide adequate, cool accommodation for up to eight people at a time.


The 2nd banda, and our poor roofer .. not long before he fell off the roof.

The compost structure has also acquired a lovely, cool grass roof –

Now that the building phase of the project is coming to an end we are turning our energies to establishing the chicken system and to productive veggie growing areas. Seventy layer hens are due to arrive on 5th August, after a frustratingly long wait. We have a completed chicken house and strawyards .. but no hens yet!

As shortage of labour and distribution of water have been the limiting factors in growing vegetables to the level we want to, we have employed a Ugandan woman (Anna) with the major responsibility of vegetable growing (and care of the chicken system in the future). Anna will join us from 3rd August. We are also waiting for the arrival of Ralph, a volunteer from Australia, who will provide some extra labour, practical help and advice.
In the meantime …

Carl harvests some comfrey leaves to make ‘tea’ for the seedling beds in the Large Vegetable Garden

Kayinga modelling with the veggies.


Derrick, Amos and Joash.


Dan helping with the daily watering

Bukenya harvests the first cabbage from his bed in the Large Vegetable Garden!


Bukenya and Rico join a group of us for end-of-week refreshments on our verandah.