Rwenzori wheels of Change 2025 – ADEMED – Asociația pentru Dezvoltare și Mediu

From grassroots to grand change!

Rwenzori Wheels of Change(RWC) is part of ADEMED`s ambitious network of change in Uganda.

Through this network we have participated in 2 Africa-wide EU funded projects and organized 3 self financed local initiatives.

September 2025

We partnered with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Mbunga Creed Uganda, and a network of local NGOs and proudly hosted 2025`s largest tree-planting event organized in the Kasese area.

This landmark initiative brought together communities, schools, and international volunteers around a common purpose: to restore fragile ecosystems and safeguard a better future for the communities of the Rwenzori Mountains.

About:

Autumn 2025: Tree planting events in the Kilembe area(self funded)

Over the course of the event, we planted 300 trees (Grevillea Robusta) in areas heavily affected by deforestation and intensive agriculture. These trees help protect the soil from erosion and landslides, improve water retention, and support the recovery of fragile landscapes.

The event also focused on education. Together with Ruboni community schools, ADEMED volunteers and local partners led simple, interactive sessions on tree planting, biodiversity, geology, water, and sustainable land use. The aim was to help students understand how trees protect their environment and why caring for the land matters for community safety and well-being.

This first edition of Rwenzori Wheels of Change marks the start of a longer journey. In 2026, we hope to reach more schools across Kasese and Fort Portal and launch a local collection-box programme to support vulnerable households with food, school supplies, medicine, supplements, and footwear.

We are grateful to Katya Kule Zaburon and his team for their care, dedication, and hard work in making this event possible.

Summer 2025 School Supplies Caravan (self funded)

Throughout the summer, Mbunga Creed distributed educational packages to around 60 children living in vulnerable conditions near the Rwenzori Mountains. The support reached orphans, malnourished children, and children who lacked basic school supplies, clothing, or proper shoes. The children are from isolated communities surrounding Kasese, in the mountainous area of Kilembe Mines.

Each package included practical items such as clothes, pens, notebooks, manuals, books, backpacks, and footwear. Almost all donated materials were covered through ADEMED’s 2025 fundraising efforts, showing how direct support can make a real difference for children preparing for school.

In 2026, we hope to continue this work and reach even more children with the basic materials they need to learn, walk to school safely, and feel supported.

2022-2024 Helping Kasese kickstart local tourism initiatives (Vocational Education and Training - Erasmus )

Our team spent one month in Uganda working with local communities to understand what kind of tourism could realistically be developed in the area. The aim was not to bring ready-made solutions, but to listen, observe, and help identify what was already there: local skills, farms, landscapes, traditions, and stories.

Together with community members, we explored possible starting points for small tourism businesses. The most viable ideas were linked to everyday life and existing knowledge: ecological farming retreats around papaya, banana, passion fruit, and coffee; practical workshops led by local people; and guided mountain tours.

The visit showed that tourism can begin in simple, practical ways. With the right knowledge and support, local communities can turn what they already have into visitor experiences that create income while staying rooted in their land, work, and culture.

As a result, Mbunga Creed implemented a local tour focused on culture & nature. It has helped them gain another stream of income. Part of the income is dedicated to helping the mountain community.

Together with our friends, we`re turning things around!

Change grows from trust, education, and shared action. In Uganda, ADEMED works alongside local communities, allies, and volunteers to support a future where people and ecosystems can thrive together.

We are looking for fundraisers, partners, and inspired people who want to help empower the communities of Kasese. Reach out, join the journey, and help us move change forward.