The Mary Wood Trust

The nursery school is named in memory of Ruth Tumwesigye who very sadly died in a car

accident in 1999. Ruth’s husband Ephraim is the director of the nursery school which has been

going for well over 25 years now. The school has been providing nursery education for children

from Kihihi area, who have lost their parents through ill health (often Aids related) or accident,

and other children who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to have any education.

This was something that Ruth and Ephraim who both trained as teachers, were passionate

about.

​Mary and Ruth became friends, and when Ruth died in a car accident in Uganda. Unfortunately,

the roads in rural parts of Uganda can be full of pot holes and treacherous, and accidents

happen frequently. Mary was very keen to support Ephraim in his endeavour with the nursery

school.

Whilst Ephraim has now retired, he continues to keep the nursery school running, providing

education for around 75 students. He relies on fees charged for each child per term, plus

support from the Mary Wood Trust. Sometimes the fees are not paid which has a direct impact

on what the 5 members of teaching staff get paid. The director does not take a salary at all.

Ephraim has since remarried and a son to educate, a costly business where education is not

free for all.  Ephraim is still​ dedicated to providing nursery education for the local area, and he

appreciates the major input that the MWT has.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the spread of Ebola proved challenging and expensive for the

RMNS as more equipment was needed to improve sanitation (hand wash, soap, cleaning

materials, a new water tap a new pit latrine). The price of many commodities has increased in

Uganda as in the UK, and this provides further difficulty. The MWT, with many generous

donations, continues to provide daily food, milk, pancakes and porridge for the children and the

salary of the cook and the night watchman.

Over the last few years MWT has funded various renovations at RMNS including newly

screeded classroom and verandah floors which has made a great difference. In addition the

internal walls have been repainted, new blackboards created, new office furniture purchased,

desks re-varnished and new mattresses provided for the rest areas. The school is now more

secure after a new perimeter fence was erected. The children enjoy all the outdoor space and

play equipment including seesaws and footballs, which regularly need funding to be repaired or

replaced. ​We have also raised funds to provide Ephraim with a reconditioned lap top and

printer, stationary, art and craft items and scanning services.

 

The children have appreciated new polo shirts donated to them by a supportive builder in the

UK. We are very grateful to private donors and fundraisers whose continued generous support

has made all this possible.