News....news....news....
July 2009 - it’s been a great fundraising month for us...
Home-baked cakes and treats went down a storm one Friday at Ashurst, raising £380;
We’re delighted to have the support of five competitors in the Zurich Ironman 2009.
The justgiving site remains open if you’d like to register your support at www.justgiving.
com/2cc-zurich2009;
..and coming up, another bring and buy clothing night, this time with our very own stylist!
April 2009 - special thanks to Gemma and Nick who nominated the Rwenzori Trust for their wedding list.
February 2009 - the start of a new school year in Uganda and we’re delighted to be able to continue our sponsorship of 35 secondary school kids. Seven of the children from last year have left the project (due to poor exam results) and a new seven have joined the project.
January 2009 - the community trails in the forest land have been repaired and upgraded thanks to a generous donation from the Rwenzori Development Foundation. If you’re in Ruboni, go and see for yourself!
The Mountains of the Moon
The first well-documented sighting of the Rwenzori by Europeans was made by Sir Henry Stanley in 1876. Previous to this there were only rumours about the source of the Nile being somewhere in the heart of Africa. Ptolemy referred to snows of “The Mountains of the Moon” which fed the waters of the Nile. This name is used to the present day for these elusive mountains whose snow-capped peaks have often remained veiled by clouds and mists, hiding them from early explorers.
In 1888 Stanley again saw the mountains, this time he could see the snows. He returned the following year with Emin Pasha; W.G. Stairs, a member of his group climbed to over 3000m towards Mt. Emin. In 1891 Emin Pasha visited the Semliki with Dr Franz Stuhlmann who led an expedition into the heart of the Rwenzori reaching Kampi ya Chupa (Camp of the Bottle). The naturalist, G F Scott-Elliot, made several visits to the mountains in 1894 and 1895. He was followed by another naturalist, J E S Moore, who climbed high onto Mt. Baker. In 1904 Dr J J David, a Swiss geologist, finally reached the Stanley plateau from the Zaire side.
The most important year in the exploration of the range is undoubtedly 1906 when the Prince Luigi Amadeo di Savoia (Duke of the Abruzzi, the famous Italian explorer) mounted a very powerful expedition, composed of biologists, surveyors, a geologist and a photographer. Guides were hired from Courmayeur. Based at Bujongolo they managed to ascend most of the major peaks and prepare an excellent map of the mountains.
There followed a period of further new ascents and several scientific expeditions. A notable contribution was made by G N Humphreys who visited the mountains seven times.
In 1929 the Belgians incorporated the Zairean Rwenzori into the Parc National Albert. In 1932 a major Belgian Scientific Expedition based at Kiondo was of great importance in the exploration and study of the western side of the Stanley group. The development of huts started with the excellent Belgian huts being constructed in 1942.
The Mountain Club of Uganda dates back to 1946. One of their major contributions to the Rwenzori was the construction of the Bujuku-Mubuku hut system. This was started in 1948 with Bujuku Hut. Other huts were built later. Bridge were twice built over the Mubuku only to be washed away. Throughout this period, Henry Osmaston was one of the main driving forces behind the development and study of the range. In 1972, in conjunction with David Pasteur, he published his magnificently researched and formulated Guide to the Rwenzori.
Recent years have seen political problems preventing safe access to the Ugandan side of the Rwenzori; as a result more adventurous groups have taken up the challenge of travel in Zaire and approached the mountains from Mutwanga. The situation in Uganda is now much more settled. It is hoped that with the establishment of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, the organisational abilities of the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services, the assistance made available by various aid organisations and the direction provided by such individuals as Guy Yeoman, Henry Osmaston and many others, it will be possible to provide high quality services for visitors while protecting this unique environment.
Text courtesy of EWP Map and Guide to the Rwenzori
Uganda country statistics
Life expectancy 50.7 years
Population 29.9m
Population growth 3.2%
Fertility rate 6.7
HIV/Aids prevalence 6.4%
Population living on less than $1 per day 85%
Literacy rate female 15-20 71.2%
% under 5 sleeping under a mosquito net 22%
% under 5 received treatment for malaria 62%
(source World Bank 2006)
