Oh Uganda, may God uphold thee

Winston Churchill called Uganda 'the pearl of Africa' yet much of the first fifty years of this Nation's history have been violent and tragic. This positive story of triumph over adversity and of friendship across cultures, time and distance is also the story of Uganda's Church and schools. John Haden and John Ondoma have lived, worked and sought to serve God in Uganda's remote West Nile district. Ondoma was born there and has lived there all his life. Haden, through links with the Africa Inland Mission, went to West Nile as a teacher. For a time, they were both 'loyal servants' of the infamous President Idi Amin. They both found wives who share their Christian faith and when the Hadens came back to England, Uganda was not forgotten. Both Johns became Headmasters of boarding schools and encouraged their students to share in exchanges and practical projects. They both faced misunderstanding and violence. When Ondoma had to leave his Headship, he found a new role with the Wycliffe team in Arua and then started the Ushindi Schools, Arua, with a specifically Christian ethos. This book is written to support these schools and to celebrate Uganda's 50th Anniversary.