When representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited Grace Community School in southwest Uganda, they saw substandard conditions — “makeshift buildings made of wood with no furniture,” explained President Robert Ssekitto, president of the Church’s Masaka Uganda District.
Following the teachings of the Savior Jesus Christ to help those in need, President Ssekitto said the Church has a robust humanitarian aid program where money is directed to help communities in need — such as what this school needed.
The Church sponsored major improvements and an expansion at the school, beginning in August 2022 and finishing in January 2023, reported the Church’s Africa Newsroom.
These improvements included three new classroom blocks, one new office and teacher block, new toilet facilities and a water capture system. This will benefit more than 200 orphans and other children from the local community.
Government officials, school administrators and Church leaders participated in the handover event on Jan. 14, including President Ssekitto; Uganda Kampala Mission President Philip J. Mathemera; and Elder Dennis Bird and Sister Merrily Bird, who are serving as humanitarian missionaries and managers of the project.
Other school projects in Uganda
In late November and early December 2022, the Church, school administrators and community leaders broke ground at three schools in Buyanga and Buwagi. Heavy rainstorms had destroyed school buildings and property.
The construction includes new classrooms, kitchens, restroom facilities and water tanks.
Earlier in 2022, the Church collaborated with nonprofit organization Windle International Uganda to upgrade six schools in the refugee settlement of Nakivale.
The Church funded the building of 18 permanent classrooms across the six schools and supplied desks, chairs, textbooks and vocational training materials. The donations included computers and internet connectivity to allow students to learn online.
