What makes Christmas special in Uganda

Christmas is a joyful time of year for communities across the world and it’s no different in rural Uganda.

It’s one of the most important holidays in Uganda. Over 80% of the population is Christian, so Christmas (‘Sekukkulu’ in Uganda) is special for many families.

The students at School for Life have started their Christmas break and are eagerly counting down to Christmas Day. And just like in Australia, it will be filled with family, food and fun.

But there are, of course, cultural differences. So, what does Christmas look like in Uganda?

Christmas is all about family

Like many places around the world, Christmas in Uganda is about family. People often travel long distances to spend the holidays in the village where they grew up. 

The students we support are excited to have two months at home surrounded by family and friends. It’s a time for them to celebrate together and be thankful. 

But there’s also a lot to do. 

Although Ugandans celebrate Christmas on December 25th, this is often the 'grand finale' - festivities can start as early as 10 days before. 

And you’ll find everybody getting involved. The children will help clean the house, dig crops in the garden and look after their siblings. 

“This is a time when most families come back home to share the celebrations.
Christmas links the gaps in families.”
— Abigail, teacher

Homes are given a christmassy feel

It’s common for Ugandans to decorate their homes with Christmas trees cut from their local neighbourhood. Beautiful coloured papers and natural flowers hang from the trees, giving them a unique festive feel.

There won’t typically be lots of presents under them. With more access to technology, children know about Father Christmas but the culture of gift-giving is not as widespread. 

For Ugandans, it’s all about being together.

buying new clothes is a christmas tradition

Although buying gifts isn’t commonplace, buying new clothes is. 

This is an exciting tradition, especially for children, as it’s often the only time of year they get new clothes. Women wear colourful traditional dresses and headwear. Some families go the extra mile and buy matching Christmas outfits.

And Christmas Day is when they get to show them off!

Up early to go to church together

Many of the students and their families attend church early on Christmas morning. It’s a joyous service, celebrating the birth of Christ and singing hymns.

Churches are full to the brim!

You’ll hear people wishing ‘Sekukkulu Ennugi’, similar to ‘Merry Christmas’, and see them admiring each other’s new (or best) clothes.

the christmas day feast is magnificent

Finally, the feast!

Preparations start early - usually the night before. Food is slow-cooked inside banana leaves over a wood fire for hours. The depth of flavour is mouth-wateringly good.

Central to the feast is the meat, typically chicken or sometimes beef or goat. You’ll also find matooke (steamed green banana), rice, sweet potatoes, peanut sauce and veggies. To wash it all down there’s soda - one of the biggest Christmas luxuries. 

Most Ugandans will have saved for months to be able to afford a feast like this. 

It brings families together. It creates joy. 

Once everyone is happily full, there’s games, traditional songs and dancing. The celebrations continue long into the night. 

“Christmas radiates a lot of happiness in everybody, most especially the children.”

Abigail, teacher

supporting school for life students this christmas

We hope all the School for Life students have a fun-filled Christmas and we can’t wait to hear about their celebrations. 

It’s also important that we keep them engaged over their two-month break. 

The dedicated teachers have provided home learning materials and will stay in touch with the students via mentoring sessions. These efforts will keep them focused on their studies and on their goals. 

You can support the students in Uganda this Christmas by buying a Gift with Impact. 

From skipping ropes and soccer balls, to paints and puzzles, there are a range of gifts starting from as little as $10. And every Gift with Impact will support our life-changing education programs in rural Uganda. 

From everyone at School for Life, we wish you a Merry Christmas or Sekukkulu Ennugi!

Success Stories
Goretti

Sweet and shy Goretti lives with her aunt, uncle and cousins in a small house in the local village. When Goretti was younger, she moved in with her aunt and uncle because her parents could no longer look after her. She was one of our first students at Katuuso Primary, starting in 2011 when she was just 4 years old. Now, Goretti is in Senior One at Mbazzi High School, and is relishing the honour of being a high school student in her community - something that is taken for granted in Australia, but in Uganda, represents freedom and opportunity. Goretti also loves attending School for Life because she hopes to one day become a pilot in Uganda - a dream which she knows can only be reached with the help of a good education.

Violah

Violah has been at School for Life since since she was six years old. Sadly, Violah has experienced hardship no child should ever deal with. Her Dad passed away three years ago, leaving her Mum without the financial means to support her family - so she left Violah and her siblings with their elderly grandmother. Every day, Violah has to wake up at 5am to fetch water, cook meals and make sure that her younger sisters are properly looked after. Then she walks half an hour to get to school. Despite this adversity, Violah has flourished at school and has made many friends. She loves that School for Life is "helping me to build a future". After finishing school, Violah hopes to become a teacher to help other children.

Umar

Umar is one of our best performing students at Mbazzi Riverside High School - but life has not always been easy for Umar. His father abandoned the family in 2015, leaving his mother to struggle to support her five children on her own. School for Life has provided Umar with opportunities that may never else have eventuated for him. Umar begun his journey with School for Life at Katuuso Primary School, where his academic ability was quickly revealed. Now, he is a thriving member of our Senior 1 class and a formidable wing on the football team. With a love for mathematics, Umar is set on studying electronic engineering after finishing his senior studies - a goal which he is the first to admit is now within reach thanks to the skills and resources provided to him by School for Life.

Rose Nambooze

Rose is a 32‐year‐old single mother of one. She started working with SFL in 2013, after taking part in our tailoring training program. Prior to working with us, she was unemployed and living in her father's home helping to care for her father, who had cataracts, and his farm.
Thanks to her full time employment, Rose was able to save enough money to pay for an eye operation and restore her father's sight, allowing him to return to work as a mechanic. Now, Rose has moved into her own home and no longer relies on her father financially. 

Joseph

Joseph is one of our Special Needs teachers at Katuuso. After surviving a severe case of malaria at age four, he was left permanently deaf. He was raised by his single mother and attended a nursery school for the handicapped and later transferred to a school for the Deaf in Kampala. He eventually mastered sign language and pursued a university degree in education. Joseph decided to become a teacher so that he could give the gift of education to others who are hearing impaired.

Teddy Namatovu

Teddy is a participant in the Kumi Tailoring Program and four of her five children attend Katuuso Primary School. She and her husband farm two acres of land, which supplies fluctuating revenue. Participation in the Kumi Tailoring Project has secured income to reliably pay for school fees, nutritious meals and renovations to the family home. Teddy has gained a great deal of self-esteem from her ability to support her family and she takes pride in independently financing the education of all five children. Teddy has also been working on her numeracy and administration skills. She was appointed Treasurer of the tailoring group and will be responsible for keeping records of their savings.

Flaviah Nassaazi

Flaviah Nassaazi started working at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School in 2011. Prior to cooking at the school, she and her husband were subsistence farmers. They worked tirelessly for small yields and minimal income to support their family. Flaviah's cooking job not only enables her to pay school fees for her children, but she has also invested in a local barbershop business. She is now passing her cooking skills onto her eldest son Frank, who has also joined the school's cooking staff. Flaviah and her husband attend the adult literacy classes offered weekly at the school. Her English and reading have improved immensely, as well as her confidence.

Rachel

In 2010, Rachel began as a cleaner at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School. She was working to save money to study to be a teacher at University. Thanks to Barrie and Simone Goldsmith, her dream of studying came true and she is now fully qualified.