If you ever wondered whether Girlguiding was a truly worldwide organisation, here’s a tale that will convince you. Following a chance meeting with some Ugandan Guiders in Entebbe during 2022, Liddy, a longtime Brownie leader in Scotland, went on to make further Guiding connections in Uganda.
The result of these links is the formation of a Brownie pack and a Junior Guides unit at Uphill Junior School.
How it Began
Liddy’s initial meeting in Entebbe was with Guiders and their girls who were celebrating the centenary of Uganda Girlguiding with a big party at Entebbe Zoo. Having introduced herself as a Scottish Brownie Leader she was swept up into the day’s festivities — including helping to cut the big birthday cake.
After returning to Scotland, Liddy was able to reach out to the Ugandan Guide organisation, resulting in a meeting during her next trustees trip to Uphill Junior School. The meeting with some of the local Guiding commissioners was held in Fort Portal. And Fort Portal happens to be the place where Girlguiding in Uganda began a century earlier! The actual spot was in the grounds of the cathedral, and is only about 20km from our school.
In 2023 with the help of Eve, Victoria and Samali, the delightful local Guiding commissioners, Liddy met some of the local Brownies, Guides and their leaders, sharing games and songs with them.
International Connections
Liddy’s Newport Brownie pack’s support for Uphill Junior School had begun in 2014, the year before The Uphill Trust became a registered charity. The pack’s sponsored walk across the Tay Bridge that year raised £1000 to buy the first water-harvesting tank for the original wooden Uphill School. This fundraising kick-started the formation of The Uphill Trust.
Over the following 11 years Newport Brownies, along with other Girlguiding communities in Fife, have helped with further fundraising.
The Newport Brownies have written letters, bought a play parachute, helped collect loom bands during that craze’s heyday, and made small craft gifts. All of these things have gone into suitcases and been hand-delivered to the kids at Uphill.
The most recent fundraising efforts by Newport Brownies gathered enough money to buy Brownie and Guide uniforms, and to cover the costs of the training and setting up the new units at Uphill. This was further helped by a very generous corporate donation from one of Newport Brownie leaders’ employers.
Girlguiding at Uphill
Back in Uganda, in 2024 our Guiding commissioners began the tasks of training some of the Uphill teachers to become leaders, and recruiting the girls who wanted to become Guides or Brownies. The interest from the Ugandan girls was overwhelming.
The Uphill girls were put through their paces learning the history of Girlguiding, the traditions, skills and challenges which are all part of the movement worldwide. They learnt whistle signals, tracking signs, knots and their mottos. Then they had to pass a written test before they were allowed to take their promises. This is serious stuff!
Promises Made
During the February 2025 trustee visit, Liddy was delighted to be part of the enrolment ceremony for the Uphill Junior School Guides and Brownies. With the help of the commissioners, Samali, Victoria and Eve, 9 Brownies, 29 Junior Guides and 4 leaders all made their promises and were welcomed into the worldwide Girlguiding movement. There was flag-raising and singing, with the girls all proudly wearing their new uniforms for the first time.
School Director Elius said:
“This is such A GREAT achievement for our school, enrolling the Brownies and Girl Guides! It’s the first ever in Kasenda Sub-county! Something to celebrate!”
Eve and Victoria will continue to help the new leaders at Uphill to embed Girlguiding into the lives of these girls.
Newport Brownies will continue their very special international connection and are planning a celebratory 11th anniversary sponsored walk across the Tay Bridge in a few months’ time.
And don’t worry, the boys have not been forgotten. We now have the challenge of helping them form a Scout unit…
Tags: girlguiding, girlguiding uganda, girlguiding UK, Uphill Junior School
