A New LifePower cuts and 300km drives have not darkened Patrick Davey's love of life at Uganda's Mountains of the Moon University, he tells Iva Pocock
Six months before Patrick Davey was due to retire from DIT Kevin Street as assistant head of the school of biological sciences he gave his name to the Volunteer Missionary Movement. "I told them I'd soon be available to do anything which was useful and legal and which could be done through English."
When they came back requesting he help set up a new university in Fort Portal, Uganda, his children thought any such move was "absolute madness" and his wife Kathy was "supportive but not very enthusiastic" about the prospect of a major upheaval.
"She was not looking forward to leaving our children and grandchildren and her own elderly parents," says Patrick.
Nevertheless they decided to leave their home in Shankill, Co Dublin, and head to the small mountain town just 15 miles from the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Since arriving in November last year life has been "absolutely fascinating", says Patrick. "It's the most wonderful place to be. I'm remembering the 40 shades of green in Ireland but it isn't a patch on here. Our garden looks as if it's been established three or four years but we actually only planted it six months ago."
However, his position as vice-chancellor designate and project manager of the fledgling Mountains of the Moon University has been a challenge given the limited funding and poor infrastructure.
Power cuts in the town, which is roughly equivalent to Drogheda, are a frequent obstacle and sometimes last for up to three days.
"It's frustrating in some respects but they are marvellous people to be working with," says Patrick. "Every day people are asking us what courses are you going to run and when are they starting. The university is desperately needed."
The former dictator, Idi Amin, had only four years primary education but was president for nine years, says Patrick. "Basically he either chased out of the country or murdered anyone who was more educated than him. Thus the country is hopelessly short of educated and trained people."
Mountains of the Moon University aims to help overcome that hindrance. The brainchild of the current Ugandan minister for trade and industry, Prof Ed Rugumayo, it has been specifically set up so that it doesn't belong to any one tribe or church, explains Patrick. It is also very practically oriented in contrast to much Ugandan education, which tends to focus on learning things by rote.
Thanks to a generous donation by a Dublin-based trust fund he was able to bring 250kg of books, as well as 15 donated computers, to form the nucleus of a new library. Unfortunately the only practical means of transport - airfreight - was the most expensive, but Kathy organised cakes sales in Shankill and Killiney to cover the cost.
She is also now involved in a project which is manufacturing intravenous food solutions, critical in treating malaria and AIDS-related diseases, and is relishing their new life.
Some of Patrick's work involves driving 300km at 5.30a.m. for meetings in the capital, Kampala. It's a task which he finds "a bit tedious given that the road is half dirt. Coming back it's not fun driving in the dark". On one occasion he passed a man dressed in black on a black bicycle carrying a double bed.
"He was completely invisible," says Patrick, who reckons the legacy of a "lawless" past when people didn't want to be seen, lives on.
Poverty remains a serious challenge with those lucky enough to have work earning paltry wages - a primary school teacher is paid just €850 per annum. Thus the Davey's monthly living allowance of €600 is substantial. A little goes a long way both in terms of money and experience.
"That's why people like ourselves, even with our limited experience, know a lot and can be of such value."
But in the short time they've been there (they intend fulfilling a commitment to stay for two years, and possibly longer) they've learnt a number of things.
Firstly, that it is "critically important" to have time for people. "Here people still have time to talk and chat."
Secondly. "It's very trite thing to say but money doesn't make people happy. For all the fact that people are living on €1 a day they are happy and laughing."
Patrick is also now convinced that "people are people wherever they are. The colour of ones skin is the most trivial difference."
When asked would he recommend others heading off to a country like Uganda after retirement he replies: "Very, very much so. It's the most wonderful experience because people are so wonderfully appreciative. But we've received far more than we've given. The experience has opened up a completely new horizon."
Volunteer Missionary Movement can be contacted at 01-8376565 or www.vmm.cjb.net