What Your Ski Holiday Helped Build in Uganda

From powder days to purpose

As the snow melts and we fondly remember the winter season just gone, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of our skiing guests. This past season wasn’t just about carving through fresh powder, sharing après-ski stories, or enjoying the breath-taking mountain scenery - it became something much bigger.

Conditions are desperate in the rainy season with the dung walls and thatched roofs of the existing homes offering little protection.

Extended families sleep huddled together on the dried mud floors.

Who are the Batwa people?

When we had a white water rafting company a decade or so ago we thought we were doing good by selling permits to visit and support the gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda. And a worthy cause it is too. But in our ignorance we didn’t realise that the government had expelled the indigenous people from the forests to make room for the gorillas. The Batwa tribes were left with nothing and have been fighting to survive ever since.

Thanks to your support we’ve been able to achieve something truly meaningful and we’ve been able to go back to the forest to try and make good our previous ignorance.

Franswaz Bimanywaruhanga says thank you for your support and looks forward to her new home being built this month.

Richard Byamugisha with wife Catherine Kusasira and their children will also receive a new house, thanks to your support.

Your holiday helped fund homes, water & hope

With part of your holiday price from last winter, we’ve successfully funded the construction of new homes, latrines and a water tower for the Batwa tribe in Uganda. One of the most marginalized indigenous communities in East Africa, the people have faced generations of displacement and hardship. Access to safe housing and clean water is a daily struggle. But because of you, our incredible community of guests, we’ve been able to help turn the tide.

Your time with us last winter means Geoffrey Mahano, Janet Samari, and their six children will receive a new home this summer.

John Mugisha and Anet Ntahusigaye will also be moving into a safe new home, thanks to your support.

What your ski holiday helped build in Uganda

With help from our friends at HYT, here's what your holiday helped make possible::

Built six safe and secure homes for Batwa families
Built three latrines to help sanitation and prevent the spread of disease
Constructed a water tower for a school and community to provide reliable access to clean drinking water

A symbolic first brick ceremony marks the beginning of a new home.

Our friends at HYT lead the way with their revolutionary low-impact building techniques.

It’s the local community who bring the project to life - their hard work makes it all possible.

A story of global connection

Together we have created real, lasting impact for a community thousands of miles away. What began as a ski season has become a story of global connection and compassion. We’re humbled and grateful to know that a shared love of skiing can ripple out to create real change. None of this would have been possible without your support. You helped make this happen.

We’ll be sharing updates and stories from the Batwa community in the future, so stay tuned. Until then, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for skiing with purpose.

Lastly my personal thanks to Reverend Jovahn (centre) and his amazing team, not least my constant companion, Levi – driver, translator, guide, fixer, historian … (far right) for your guidance, support and relentless enthusiasm to make life better for others less fortunate. You are all a constant inspiration.

Here’s to the mountains we explore, and the lives we uplift along the way

If you’d like to help make a meaningful difference or chat about our work in Africa, drop me a line andy.sturt@vip-chalets.com
Small gestures here can make a very, very big difference there. For more information about the work of HYT in Uganda visit hytuganda.com

- Andy Sturt, Founder