MVULE TRUST Annual Report

2
USEFUL TERMS
This Annual Report was prepared by
Josephine Abalo, Betty Okot and Cathy Watson.
Layout and Design by Michael Kalanzi (MeBK ConSult)
USEFUL TERMS
ALEVEL/ADVANCED LEVEL:
Comprises grades Senior 5 (S5) and Senior 6 (S6), culminating in a Uganda Advanced
Certifcate of Education (UACE). A-level is necessary for pursuing a diploma at a tertiary
institution or a degree at university.
OLEVEL/ORDINARY LEVEL:
Comprises grades S1 through S4, and a Uganda Certifcate of Education (UCE). O-level is
necessary for pursuing a certifcate at a tertiary institution. O-level examination results are
ranked by division, with Division 1 indicating the best results and Division 4 the poorest.
TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS:
Non- university educational institutions for higher diplomas in professions such as
nursing,forestry, medical laboratory technician,secondary and primary teaching.
VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS:
Non -university educational institutions for ordinary diplomas and certifcates in practical
felds such as Catering, Tailoring, Bricklaying and Carpentry etc.
ACRONYMS
ADRA: Adventist Development & Relief Agency
AIC: Aids Information Centre
ASRH: Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health
MT: Mvule Trust
MUBS: Makerere University Business School
NFC: Nyabyeya Forestry College
NGO: Non-Governmental Organisation
UTC: Uganda Technical College(s)
PTC: Primary Teacher College
STF: Straight Talk Foundation
SS: Secondary School
Mvule is the name of the endangered
African hardwood, Milicia excelsa.
Cover photo: Ameo Winnie from Katine Sub-county (Soroti district) a student at Ngora Girls School.
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
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CONTENTS
A Mvule-funded sexual health event in the northern district of Gulu:
a student offers her arm for an HIV test.
CONTENTS
Useful Terms 2
Table of Contents 3
Directors Message 4
Executive Summary and Background 5
Objectives and Map 6
Statistics on Benefciaries 7
Student Retention and Activities 8
Secondary/Tertiary Education 10
Young Professionals 12
University Students 13
Guardian Students 14
Mini Tracer Study 14
ASRH Talks 17
Fianace 18
Income and Expenditure Statement 19
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Message from the Director
DIRECTORS MESSAGE
Furthermore, none of those traced
admitted to having sold the sewing
machines that we had given them. Suzan
Auma, now 29 and married with two
children, said, If you want any style of
clothing, you can approach me and explain
what you want. You will not believe what
I will make for you. Many people come
back to appreciate the clothes I make
for them. And that is how I get money!
The most educated person in her family,
Susan makes about $160 a month and
employs fve people on a commission
basis. That many former benefciaries were
now employers was another unexpected
positive.
Still on tools -- Nickline Anyeko, 21, now
a nursery school teacher, still uses the
teaching aids that we gave her. And Patrick
Onek calls the tools that we gave him,
such as a T-square and tape measure, his
darlings and takes scrupulous care of
them. I wont lie, said the father of two,
who now runs a carpentry workshop. I
didnt have to struggle like my friends who
strained to get tools. Mvule gave us tools
and we were making money immediately
after school. Tools are a cash transfer.
Only one of the young people traced did
not have his tools. He says he was robbed
and is despondent to be working now as
a security guard. He is the only student
traced not pursuing the trade for which he
trained.
In all in 2015, we supported 376 students.
I thank Arcadia, Guardian readers,
our board, auditors and Straight Talk
Foundation.
Cathy Watson
Put in charge of three of the very few large
national forests remaining, they wrangle
daily with encroachers and animal and
tree poachers. We know that they are
galvanizing communities to protect these
invaluable natural resources. We wish them
safety and success.
My highlight in 2013 was reading the
interviews with young people who we
sponsored at vocational schools in 2007
to 2009 after the war in Northern Uganda.
Although we had stayed in touch with
many of them, we had never systematically
followed up this group, which numbered
65. So in 2013 we traced 33 of them.
We were not surprised to fnd that they
were helping their parents or that almost
their greatest preoccupation was putting
their siblings through school. These had
been fndings of our large tracer study
in 2012, and we had come to see this
heroic dutifulness as normal. However, in
this post-war period, many NGOs funded
vocational training, such as tailoring for
girls and car repair for boys. Subsequently,
there was intense criticism that this was
done with scant regard for the labour
market. Also, aspersions were cast on the
wisdom of training girls to sew clothes,
given that secondhand clothes
food Uganda. Thus, it was
to our great delight that we
found that almost all the
former benefciaries were
working in the felds for which
they had been trained and
still had the tools that we had
supplied to them at the end of
their training.
With respect to tailoring, we
found the young women
making a good living.
2
013 was Mvule Trusts eighths year.
It was the year that we spent the
last of the $5 million so generously
granted by Lisbet Rausing and Peter
Baldwin in 2005. We had expected to
spend it in fve years but took time to
work out how and with whom to work,
and where to put our resources. We have
now taken stock of what we achieved
with the $5 million grant, which was
supplemented with more than $500,000
from readers of The Guardian from 2010
onwards.
Between 2006 and the end of 2013, we
supported 3404 diferent individuals in
education. Among others, we funded the
training of 260 nurses and midwives, 14
clinical ofcers (a rank between nurse
and doctor), 69 laboratory technicians,
121 foresters, 51 agriculturalists and 181
teachers. We take pleasure in thinking
of these young professionals and
others, such as the accountants whose
studies Mvule Trust also paid for, serving
countrywide.
In 2013 two of our foresters were among
30 who were recruited out of 300
applicants in a highly competitive drive
by Ugandas National Forestry Authority.
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Executive Summary
I
n 2013 Mvule Trust continued to be a lean NGO
with just a program manager, an intern and a driver.
It primarily awarded and supervised scholarships.
The organisation paid in advance for two years (four
semesters) for 160 benefciaries who were enrolled on
either two year degree or diploma courses. This was the
major scholarship expenditure in 2013.
Mvule Trust maintained its verifcation-of-students trips;
its practice is to physically meet every benefciary at least
once a year at their educational institute. Altogether,
376 scholarship recipients across 57 institutions were
visited by the team.
Mvule Trust conducted three Adolescent Sexual and
Reproductive Health (ASRH) outreaches to inform
benefciaries and their college mates about staying safe
in school and beyond. These sessions were open to the
entire student body of the institutions that benefciaries
attend and provided free HIV testing and counseling and
family planning information.
Just four out of the 528 students tested were found
to be living with HIV. The dialogues helped to render
less potent some of the social and cultural taboos
that surround sexuality and that can have negative
consequences.
Finally, Mvule Trust conducted a mini tracer study of 35
alumni who fnished vocational training in 2008/10. Such
studies help the NGO to assess its work and understand
more about young people, education and the transition
to work.
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
Mvule Trust in 2013
Background Mvule Trust was established to enable needy children and
youth from remote districts of Uganda to attend secondary school. Later tertiary
education became a focus.
Mission
The Trusts main organisational goal is to
improve the lives of underprivileged rural
Ugandan families by providing young
people, primarily girls, with scholarships.
Vision
Mvule Trust envisions a cadre of young
people who are educated, self-confdent,
self-sufcient and able to engage in
sustainable livelihoods in their home areas.
Administered scholarships to 376
new and/or continuing students:
334 at tertiary and 42 at secondary.
Distributed scholastic materials
worth $4,132 (Ugs10,000,000) to
benefciaries.
Advertised scholarships for youth
from Teso in Eastern Uganda who
had been out of school for at least
two years. By December 2013, Mvule
had accepted six students. Others
would be taken on in 2014.
Collected data about vocational
scholars who completed training
four to fve years ago.
Conducted ASRH talks including on
safe male circumcision.
Escorted its auditors to six
institutions in the southwestern
Ugandan districts of Masaka,
Mbarara and Kabale.
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OBJECTIVES AND MAP
Mvule Trust 2013 beneficiaries
by number, region & gender
Main focus districts of Mvule Trust
Eastern 162
Tertiary
education
Male 49
Female 78
Secondary 35
Male 4
Female 31
Northern 76
Tertiary
education
Male 26
Female 48
Secondary
Females 2
West Nile 54
Tertiary
education
Male 18
Female 36
Western 78
Tertiary
education
Male 22
Female 56
Central and others
Tertiary education
Female 6
Objectives
Fund bursaries for young
adults, primarily girls, who
are not able to pursue a post-
primary education.
Where possible, provide
Mvule Trust benefciaries with
personal materials crucial
for academic progress, such
as school uniforms, medical
and health supplies, writing
or trade tools and transport
allowances.
Finance the development
of school facilities such
as libraries and science
laboratories.
Develop a support network
for benefciaries that
will encourage them to
pursue their studies. These
eforts include Adolescent
Reproductive Health (ARH)
and life skills training,
meetings with benefciaries
parents, teachers
workshops and dialogue
with community leaders to
promote education.
Help graduates to secure
employment once they have
completed their education.
Support eforts by other
organisations or programmes
aimed at increasing quality
and accessibility of education
in Uganda.
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Statistics on Beneficiaries
STATISTICS ON BENEFICIARIES
Number of students supported by year and educational course Years of
Educational level 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Education
0 Level 1382 1307 1405 858 174 117 47 41 5331
A-level S5 255 118 452 9 2 0 836
A-level S6 218 112 431 5 1 767
Vocational training 137 333 0 470
Agriculture/Forestry 50 49 144 95 88 127 91 644
Technical 29 19 26 20 94
Teaching 1 118 93 191 125 44 27 599
University 21 47 93 78 239
Business studies 49 36 77 93 45 300
Health 154 215 314 255 195 153 73 1359
Grand Total 1382 1904 2338 1576 1365 1108 590 376 10639

Benefciaries by Gender and Course(s)
Level of education Males Females Total
O-Level 5 36 41
A-Level S5 0 0 0
A-Level S6 0 1 1
Agriculture/forestry/
environment 38 53 91
Technical 15 5 20
Teaching 10 17 27
Business studies 5 40 45
Health 21 52 73
University 23 55 78
TOTAL 117 259 376
2013 Students by Gender
Since its inception, Mvule Trust has supported over 3400 students to undertake almost 11,000 years of
education. Thus, the average benefciary was supported for about four years.
2013 Students by Enrolment
S
ixty nine percent of the benefciaries were female and
31% male; 89% were studying at tertiary levels (college
and university) and 11% at secondary level. Notably,
agriculture, forestry and/or environment students numbered
91(38 male and 53 female) or 27% of the total, while 23%
of students, 78 (23 male and 55 female) were at university.
Furthermore, 73 students (21 male and 52 females) or 22% were
training to become nurses, clinical offcers or medical laboratory
technicians. Other students (14%) were training in business
studies (5 male and 40 female) and education 27 or 8% (10 male
and 17 female).The latter were training to qualify as secondary
school teachers or nursery teachers. Twenty (15 male and 5
female) or 6% were training at technical colleges, on courses such
as water and sanitation and civil or mechanical engineering.
2013 Tertiary Students
by Course
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
Other
tertiary
68%
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Activities
Student enrolment
and retention
Overall, in 2013, Mvule sponsored
376 new and/or continuing
students in 48 tertiary and nine
secondary institutions.
Of these, 117 (31%) were males
while 259 were females (69%).
At the end of 2013, 21% of MT
benefciaries were at universities
and 68% at other tertiary
institutions. Out of the students
sponsored, 174 graduated in 2013.
Verification trips
S
chool visits and mentoring were core activities undertaken by
Mvule Trust in 2013. The visits crucially enabled the NGO to
verify the presence and attendance of all benefciaries at their
educational institutions. On these visits, Mvule Trust also validated fees
bills and identifed or addressed any other irregularities that might have
been found. In addition, the visits provided opportunities for talks with
school administrations and scholars and allowed Mvule Trust to update its
data base and deliver school supplies to benefciaries. All in all, between
January and August 2013, Mvule Trust conducted eight feld visits.
Mvule Trust beneficiaries at Tororo Girls School. In white is Akereje
Moureen who finished O level in 2013 and wishes to study nursing.
Beneficiaries at
Ugandas National
Forestry College (NFC),
Nyabyeya, Masindi: the
girl in yellow is Ajano
Vicky, the fifth born out
of eight siblings. She
now has a Diploma in
Beekeeping from NFC.
RETENTION AND ACTIVITIES
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
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RETENTION AND ACTIVITIES
Below: Mvule scholars at Soroti School of
Comprehensive Nursing: The boy on the
extreme left is Oboo Pius, who graduated in
2013 with a Diploma in Comprehensive Nursing.
He is now working at St. Francis Health Care
Services, Soroti.
He says, From the bottom of my heart, I
would like the Mvule people and all the donors
to know that, I am very grateful and happy that
God used them to revive the hope and dreams
in souls of the forsaken, unfortunate, struggling
and trapped young generation, like I was. I
myself inherited poverty and got trapped in a
hard-to-break vicious cycle of poverty. Before
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
you came, all I saw was the end of cross-roads
with no other direction to take.
You restored hope not only to me, but to the
thousands of children that the organisation has
helped. As I write this letter to you, I caught
my tears, dripping, soaking the earth beneath
my feet. But tears for what? Honestly, they
are tears of joy and happiness and all my lips
whispered was - thank you, Mvule. Thank you,
Madam Josephine, for your tireless work and
motherly advice that you gave us on your many
visits, for they have tamed and humbled us.
Thank you all the people working at Mvule. May
the almighty God bless the donors of Mvule.
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
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Secondary Education
I
n 2013 Mvule Trust carried on 42 secondary
students on bursaries from 2012 (41 at
O level and one at A level). The vast
majority were sponsored with The Guardian
readers fund. Thirty seven of the 41 O level
students fnished O levels in 2013. Mvule
Trust plans to support about 30 of them on
professional or vocational courses in 2014,
with a focus on nursing for those that passed
well and Early Childhood Development for
students with lower marks. Nursery school
teaching provides strong job opportunities.
Beneficiaries at St Marys Girls School Madera. All are
from Katine Sub-county and funded by The Guardian.
Tertiary Education
I
n 2013, Mvule Trust sponsored
334 students (112 males and
222 females) for tertiary
courses: 91 (38 males and
53 females) were enrolled
on agriculture, forestry or
environmental courses.
Interestingly, 147 or 44% of the
students at tertiary institutions
in 2013 were part of the original
group of 669 benefciaries enrolled
in senior one (1st year of O
levels) in 2006. Thus 20% of the
original 669 have been on MT
scholarships for eight years.
Above: Beneficiaries at Makerere University Business School, Jinja
Campus: The girl in pink is Nambuya Sylvia, a student of Bachelor
of Arts in Procurement and Chain Supply. Sylvia has been on the
scholarship since 2006.
The girl in the middle is Charity Niyoshuti from Kisoro district. Charity
is the frst from her sub county to attend university and a student
of Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. She said, Without
Mvules scholarship, I would not have reached here. I thank you,
Mvule, and your donors and staff.
On the right is Agapo Okanaya Harriet from Kaberamido. She has been
funded for the last eight years and is also studying for a business
degree.
SECONDARY EDUCATION
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
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Mvule beneficiary at Bukalasa
Agricultural College in Luwero:
Amony Annet has been on a Mvule
scholarship since 2006. In her own
words, I have been a struggling and
stubborn scholar. In 2006 when Mvule
frst met me, I was a child mother. I
had conceived while hiding during the
war.
Supported by Mvule, I was trained in
brick laying and concrete practice
and successfully completed in 2007.
But, in the same year, I gave birth to
my second child and lost touch with
Mvule. Life was not easy. My teenage
husband was an alcoholic. It was
only then that I realised that life was
useless without education.
I ran back to Mvule and pleaded to
be forgiven and to be helped to go
back to school. I needed to continue
with my secondary education, as I had
obtained aggregate 17 on my primary
leaving exam. I was lucky. Mvule
helped me and I began S2 in 2008 and
completed S4 in 2010 and also had a
third child. In 2011, I joined Bukalasa
Agricultural College and graduated in
2012 with a certifcate in Floriculture.
In the same year, I re-enrolled for a
one year express diploma and by June
2014, I will be done.
My life has changed. With the
education that Mvule gave me, I will
never fail to cater for my family. Long
live Mvule Trust and thank you to
those who funded Mvule Trust. Your
funds were well invested.
TERTIARY EDUCATION
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
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Young Professionals
M
vule Trust refers to their
scholarship recipients that
trained in professional
felds such as health, agriculture,
forestry, environmental sciences as
Young Professionals. This group
constituted the largest number of
students at tertiary institutions in
2013: 30% were training in health
and 25% in environment-related
courses. In 2013 many from this
group graduated from the National
Forestry College with Diplomas
or Certifcates in Bee Keeping;
Biomass Technology; Forestry or
Agroforestry.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
Mvule Trust beneficiaries who graduated from
Uganda National Forestry College in 2013.
Mvule Trust scholars at Uganda Technical
College in Lira: The girl on the right is Lenia
Hope, a student of Water and Sanitation
Engineering. Lenia has been on scholarship
since 2006. Next to her is Ojaku Norbert from
Arua, who also joined Mvules list in 2006 and is
now a student of Building and Civil Engineering.
On the same course is Akello Hellen Josephine
(second left) and left is Louga Augustine.
Joyleen Tugume is a Mvule Trust
beneficiary at Uganda Wildlife
Training Institute at Katwe, Kasese
district. She will qualify as a game
ranger and is almost certain to
find employment.
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
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UNIVERSITIES
University Students
I
n 2013, Mvule Trust sponsored
students in 14 different
universities in the country.
Twelve females and two males
are at Gulu University; four
females and six males are at
Kumi University; eleven females
and three males are at Kabale
University; ten females and three
males are at Makerere University;
seven females and six males are
at Kyambogo University; one girl
is in Makerere University Business
School (MUBS) main campus, four
girls are at MUBS Jinja, and one
boy is at MUBS Arua; one girl is at
Uganda Christian University (UCU)
Mukono main campus; three girls
are at UCU Arua campus; and two
boys are at Busitema University.
Mvule Trust is exploring ways
to support the neediest of
continuing students at university
beyond the two years that
have already been paid in full.
It believes that at least 15
students would most probably not
complete their courses without
additional support from Mvule
Trust.
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
Mvule students at Gulu University. Far left in the blue sleeveless blouse is
Adokorach Nancy. She said, I have been on scholarship since 2007 and I
cannot believe it! We are six children in our family, four boys and two girls.
I am the frst born and the only family member educated to university level.
Because of the Mvule Trust scholarship, my mother, who is our sole provider,
has been able to save some money and send my sister to school. She is now
in S4. My brothers are just at home and sometimes they do casual jobs to
help my mother. I am proud to be a second year student of Bachelor of Arts
in Education. I hope to get a teaching job immediately after I qualify, so
that I can relieve my mother. Thank you, Mvule Trust, and its funders. You
have made a lot of difference in our lives.
Next to Nancy in the middle is Ajok Night in a white T-shirt. Oryema Solomon
is in a red T-shirt and a grey jacket. They joined Mvule Trust scholarship in
2010 for A levels, after which they were offered a two year scholarship for
their university education. Night is studying Public Administration, while
Solomon is studying education.
Right: Some of the
fourteen Mvule Trust
beneficiaries at
Kabale University. Ten
out of the fourteen
have been on the
scholarship since
2006.
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
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THE GUARDIAN
I
n 2013, Mvule Trust was still funding 119 (40 male and 79 female) students
who were part of the initial 235 youth from Teso in Eastern Uganda, who
were selected for support from Guardian readers in early 2010. From this
group of 119, a total of 42 students completed O level in 2013. Mvule Trust
will support 25 of the most engaged of these young people through two year
certifcate courses starting in 2014. Besides that, 77 other Guardian scholars
were distributed across tertiary institutions. Ten were in various universities,
40 studying at forestry or agricultural college, three training to be nurses, and
24 enrolled for business, technical or teaching courses. By December, 54 of
the Guardian-sponsored students had completed their training. Mvule Trust has
already paid full tuition for the remaining 23 who are due to fnish in June 2014.
Guardian Students
Mvule Trusts Guardian-funded scholars at Kumi University: The girl on the left is Apio Justine.
She lives with her mother, her father having pased away. Justine is very happy to have reached
university and studied accounts. Getting a job today is not easy at all, but I hope to get one soon
so that I can help my mother. Thank you, Mvule, for making this possible for me and many others.
Jessica Ademon was
interviewed by The Guardian.
The photo here shows Jessica
as she appeared in 2009 in
the ensuing article. Her desire
then was to be a nursery school
teacher. Mvule Trust supported
her to enrol for an Early
Childhood Development (ECD)
teaching course, but she failed to
complete it due to ill health.
After a study break of two years,
she enrolled with Mvule support
on the same course again. She
graduated in December 2013.
Refecting back, Jessica said,
I am very happy that Mvule
Trust did not give up on me.
You gave me another chance
to do the course that I always
wanted to do. Today I am
proud to be a qualifed nursery
school teacher. I am currently
teaching in a nursery school in
Amuria district and am being
paid UGX 120,000/= ($46) a
month.
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
15
MINI TRACER STUDY
Mini Tracer Study
M
vule Trust undertook a mini tracer study
of benefciaries who graduated from
vocational institutions in 2008-10. This
group had not been included in the 2011 tracer
study.
The study used action research to locate former
benefciaries and invite them to participate.
The research team designed questionnaires
that captured biographical, educational, and
employment data. The researchers used telephone
and the media to reach as many respondents as
possible. Two months prior to feldwork, radio
announcements were aired on a Gulu radio station
to inform former benefciaries about the study,
which was also to double as their reunion. A snow
balling method quickened the mobilisation,
enabling the research team to reach a wide
network of previous MT benefciaries. Many of the
former benefciaries knew the where-abouts of
their former classmates and how to contact them
either by telephone, e-mail or word of mouth.
Mvule Trust located 33 (13 male and 20 female) or
51% of 65 individuals.
Finding 1: benefciaries were poor at the start
of the bursary - indeed they were needy
The study found that the benefciaries came from
families in chronic poverty. Nine out of 20 females
and six out of 13 males had been child parents
when taken on, while 23 individuals or 70% had
grown up in either grass thatched huts or mud
houses. Fourteen or 42% were total orphans. While
growing up, the main source of food for 28 former
benefciaries or 85% was the familys own garden.
Only 15% or fve individuals indicated that, at
the time of being picked up by Mvule, they could
afford food to buy from the market.
Nineteen of the fathers (58%) and 28 of the
mothers (85%) of the former benefciaries were
practicing subsistence farming at the time the
scholarship began. Moreover, 14 of the mothers
(43%) and 8 of the fathers (25%) had never been to
school. Only seven of the fathers (21%) had a job
in the formal sector; no mothers were formally
employed.
Finding 2: Training helped benefciaries
emerge from poverty
The study found that almost all of the traced
former benefciaries are now the most educated
person in the family. In addition, 29 of the students
(88%) -- 20 of the females and 9 of the males --
were using the skills that they had acquired during
the vocational training to earn a living.
Twenty-three of the former benefciaries (70%)
are self employed. Thirteen (39%) started up their
own business immediately after completing the
training. Of these, seven (6 females and one male)
are now employing others -- a particularly positive
fnding. Only 6 of those traced are in waged jobs
(18%) and only 4 (12%) are doing casual work.
Moreover, 28 (85%) of the former students -- 17 of
females and 11 of the males -- still have the tools
that were provided to them over fve years ago.
Sixteen of the young people traced (57%) said that
they contribute money and other resources to help
their parents and siblings, a trend that was noticed
in the large tracer study in 2012.
Overall, the well being of benefciaries has greatly
improved. Just four of those traced (12%) recalled
that, at the time of enrolment, they were able
to have three meals a day. This has risen to 15
of those traced (46%) saying that today they are
able to eat three times a day. Housing has also
improved, although not as much as nutritional
intake. Today 21% of those traced say they live in
a semi permanent house up from just 3% at the
inception of the scholarship.
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
16
Life Stories
Akello Joan
Akello Joan, is a mother of three. In 2013, her
last child was fve years old. So she conceived
her frst child at 17 years when she herself was
still a child.
She was one of child mothers that Mvule Trust
sent to train in Tailoring and Garment Cutting.
Today she has made something of her life,
the tracer study found. She is employed as
an offce assistant for the Acholi Education
Initiative in Nwoya district.
During her free time, including weekends, she
practices tailoring and garment cutting. She
says that Mvule Trust gave her the opportunity
to transform her life, gain more confdence
in her abilities and provide for her three
children. She describesherself as confdent
and independent and says that, by educating
her, the scholarship gave her three children
the promise of a brighter future.

Patrick Onek
Mvule Trust sponsored
Onek on a Carpentry and
Joinery course at St Josephs
Vocational School in Gulu.
He had completed the seven
years of primary school
with no hope of continuing
with education because his
family could not afford it.
After his Primary Leaving
Examinations, Onek returned
to the routine of contributing
to the family welfare by
helping his mother with house
chores and tilling the land.
He explained that, We spent
much time digging to meet our familys needs. We would
also go to the neighbours for paid labour to buy books,
clothes and other essentials. Then Mvule Trust came along
and his course in life changed for the better. Had it not
been for the scholarship, he says, there would have been
no more schooling, period! The next thing would have been
getting myself a woman like some of my friends or resorting
to alcohol. Some of the girls from my class who could not
continue with education simply got married to drunkards.
In Oneks view, his life is different because of Mvule Trust.
He says that the moment that he fnished vocational training,
people contracted him ...for simple jobs like making tables,
chairs, and repairs. Soon I was becoming a millionaire and
started to spend money faa (carelessly in Luo). But my mum
and girlfriend, now my wife, advised me to invest in a shop
and I did.
The shop is now a thriving business, a pillar in the community.
I hear my name or Oneks shop everywhere in the village.
He continues to support his mother and invest in his family of
two children. Onek and his wife have planned for only three
children.
LIFE STORIES
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
17
Susan Akello
From Bobbi village in Northern Uganda, Susan
Akello was sponsored for a Certifcate in Brick
Laying and Concrete Practise. Today She is
qualifed. I am now a builder, she told the
tracer study team. That is my profession.
Before scholarship, she explained, she was
not doing anything valuable. I was just home.
I always woke up early in the morning to
cook for my parents. Then after that, I would
sometimes help in the garden.
Elaborating on her life before Mvule Trusts
intervention, Susan says, Imagine that for
the one year that I had spent at home, I
had received like 10 requests from men who
wanted me to marry them. I almost gave in
because of being disappointed in life. Mvule
Trust came in at a time when I was getting
married in the coming months. My parents
also wanted me to get married to feel
that pride of having grandchildren. And,
bad enough, even some of my relatives
thought that being out of school means
marriage. I am glad that Mvule Trust
saved me from that scenario.
After her course, Susan was able to
transition straight into a job, When I
fnished, I had to search for means of
survival. I ended up at a construction
site. I was happy because I got a job that
exactly ft what I had studied. At last I
could earn money and take care of my
family!
Susan is the most educated person in
her family and takes much pride in her
profession.
Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Talks
I
n 2013, Mvule Trust held three sessions of adolescent
reproductive health awareness talks for its benefciaries and
entire student body at Kabale National Teachers College,
Unyama National Teachers College, and the National Forestry
College, Nyabyeya. These were held in collaboration with the
AIDS Information Centre (AIC), Kabale, and the Straight Talk
Foundation Gulu Youth Centre. The main objectives were to:
Support benefciaries to learn their health status by the
time they graduated.
Ensure that those with HIV were counselled on how to live
positively.
Encourage adolescents to live healthy lives and stay safe in
school.
Enlighten benefciaries on safe male circumcision, family
planning, dangers of unprotected sex and issues surrounding
of abortion.
A total of 528 students (Mvule benefciaries and
others) were tested for HIV. Three females and one
male were found to have HIV.
An AIC youth counsellor demonstrates how to use a
female condom at Kabale NTC.
ADOLESCENT TALKS
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
18
I
n 2013, Mvule Trust had a total income of
UGX1,115,180,687 of which Arcadia provided
UGX1,008,150,786 (90%) and Guardian readers
UGX 107,029,901. At an estimated exchange rate
of $1= UGX2550, this income was the equivalent
of $437,326, of which Arcadia provided $395,353
and Guardian readers $41,973. Total expenditure
was UGX 887,389,807 or $347,996. Arcadia funds
accounted for UGX793,248,134 or $311,078 or
89%.
In 2013, Mvule Trust overheads were low and
almost all funds (82%) went on benefciaries:
UGX728,104,115 or $285,531 went on bursaries,
scholastic materials, school visits and the
tracer study. Breaking that down, 72% of total
expenditure (UGX 643,264,915 or $252,261)
went on school fees and 12% (UGX84,839,200
or $33,270) went on school visits, monitoring,
the tracer study, and material support for
benefciaries (e.g. pens and books, hostel fees,
feeding and transport to and from their schools).
Salaries of the three project staff cost
UGX68,152,399 or $26,726, just 8% of total
expenditure. Overheads (e.g. audit fee, vehicle
running costs, publicity cost and bank charges)
amounted to UGX91,133,293 or $35,739, about
10% of total expenditure.
Total expenditure per student in 2013 was $925.
However, Mvule Trust paid UGX138,708,840 in
advance fees for one 2014 semester for 160
tertiary students. Therefore, the real cost per
student in 2013 was even lower at about $780.
Mvule Trusts annual spend is decreasing as it
winds up its scholarship scheme. In 2012 MT spent
UGX1,395,318,839 or $573,969 for 596 students.
FINANCE
Finance
A student
shares her
experience
of managing
painful
menstrual
periods.
A counsellor explains family planning to forestry students. Students await HIV results at the forestry college.
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
19
INCOME & EXPENDITURE
Expenditure for Mvule Trust in Uganda Exchange rate UGX2550=$1
Particular Arcadia Guardian Total UGX Total Dollar
Bursaries - Tertiary and vocational 554,835,358 33,285,357 588,120,715 230,636
Bursaries - Secondary education - 55,144,200 55,144,200 21,625
Visits to schools & institutions 24,600,900 - 24,600,900 9,647
Hostel fees, transport, materials 45,886,000 2,860,000 48,746,000 19,116
Tracer study 11,492,300 - 11,492,300 4,507
Administration 55,528,141 - 55,528,141 21,776
Staf cost 67,164,199 988,200 68,152,399 26,726
Vehicle maintenance 14,212,964 1,000,000 15,212,964 5,966
Audit charges 17,700,000 - 17,700,000 6,941
Bank charges 1,828,272 863,916 2,692,188 1,056
Total expenditure 793,248,134 94,141,673 887,389,807 347,996
MVULE TRUST Annual Report
Income Amount in UGX US DOLLAR
Arcadia 1,008,150,786 395,353
Guardian 107,029,901 41,973
Total 1,115,180,687 437,326
2013 Income Statement
Expenditure for Mvule Trust in Uganda Exchange rate UGX2550=$1
2013 Expenditure Statement
The Mvule Trust team
Cathy Watson and William Pike, Directors
Josephine Abalo, Programme Manager
Betty Okot, Education Advisor (consultant)
Fred Mwesigwa, Transport Offcer
Lydia Nuwagaba, Intern.
Mvule Trust
Governing document:
Charitable Trust Deed signed between
the two founders and three trustees
on 1 March 2005.
Trustees: David Bowes Lyon (Chair);
Richard Dowden, Joel Kibazo,
Richard Ayah
Principal ofce: Highfeld House,
Park Road, Combe, Witney, OX29 8NA
Auditors:
Carr Stanyer Sims and Co.
Certifed Public Accountants
PO Box 6293, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256-04140258458
Bankers:
Stanbic Bank, Crested Towers,
Corporate Branch, PO Box 7131,
Kampala, Uganda
Barclays Bank PLC
Pall Mall 2, London, UK
Solicitors:
Lex Uganda
8th Floor Communications House
PO Box 22490, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256-414-232733
Taylor Wessing, Carmelite
50 Victoria Embankment
Blackfriars, London EC4Y 0DX, UK
Tel: 44-207-300-7000
Arcadia: 5 Young Street,
London, UK W8 5EH
Tel: 44-207-361-4907
UK Charity Commission No.
1111410 (22 September 2005)
Government of Uganda
NGO Certifcate of Registration:
S. 5914/6093 (28 October 2005)
You can visit Mvule Trust on Facebook
Uganda Address
Mvule Trust c/o Straight Talk Foundation
4 Acacia Avenue,
PO Box 22366, Kampala, Uganda
Email: cathyhwatson@gmail.com
or jabalo256@gmail.com