SCOTS | ST. ANDREW'S | DAY

KAMPALA - Scots living and working in Uganda have celebrated St Andrew’s Day, which is their national day. Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom.

Louise Ellis, the Deputy High Commissioner of the British High Commission in Kampala, said Scotland and Uganda have strong relations and friendship.

Ellis added that there is a lot of cultural exchange between the two countries and strong links in trade and education between the two countries.

She made the remarks during Scotland's national day celebrations that took place at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel yesterday, November 26, 2022. During the celebrations, many Scots were dressed in kilts and sporran (bag).

The audience included Ugandans and various embassy officials who enjoyed traditional food and music accompanied by wines and whiskies.

Band flies in

The audience was thrilled by a performance from the Haggis Chaser Ceilidh Band that flew in from Scotland. The band members taught the audience the basic steps, footwork and techniques of traditional Scottish (Ceilidh) dance. The dance is characterised by various couples dancing in small and large circles.

St Andrew’s Ball

Ellis said she was delighted to be at St Andrew’s Ball. This was her first time attending the ball and she was looking forward to the next one as the world comes out of COVID-19.  

Ellis (Left), the Deputy High Commissioner of the British High Commission in Uganda in a toast with James Macbeth (Right) the chairperson of the Scottish Society in Uganda during Scotland’s National Day celebrations. This was at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel. (All Photos by John Odyek)

She noted that Scotland was such a beautiful country with such passionate people much like Uganda.

Supporting schools for the blind

“As we celebrate St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, I want to praise members of the Caledonian Society who embody the spirit of St Andrew in support of charity work,” Ellis said.

Caledonian is a geographical term used to refer to places, species, or items in or from Scotland. It derives from Caledonia, the Roman name for the area of modern Scotland.

The Caledonian Society was launched in 1907 and it has done charity work in Uganda and other parts of the world.  

“This year, the proceeds from many of the fundraising activities are supporting the Salaama School for the Blind in Mukono,” Ellis said.

This school was in the news recently, due to a dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 11 pupils.

“The school has a special place in our hearts given the exceptional work it does in transforming pupils' lives. The idea of being blind and having to get through life is something we cannot really comprehend. This school allows blinding or partially sighted students to live a near normal life,” Ellis said.

St Andrew's Day falls on November 30

James Macbeth, the chairperson of the Scottish Society in Uganda said all proceeds from the band will go to supporting the Salama School for the Blind in Mukono district. 

Macbeth, who is also the GIZ country director for Uganda, said the Scottish band that performed at the Hill Preparatory School, Naguru in Kampala, was part of the cultural exchange between the two countries, to bring a smile to the faces of the children with special needs and other children at the school.