Mountain Club of Uganda makes strides in making climbing more accessible
CLIMB MANAGEMENT: Albert Abayo leads a route known as 鈥淥n the Eggs鈥� at Muyenga quarry in Kampala, Uganda. He and other club members are working to increase community exposure to rock climbing.
Kang-Chun Cheng
Kampala, Uganda
With the sun鈥檚 golden rays streaming behind him, Miracle Ainamaani shouts 鈥淩ope!鈥� 鈥� a standard practice in case any fellow climbers are below him. Then he tosses a coil from the summit of Muyenga quarry. The rope has been threaded through chains bolted at the top, creating a secure line from which he will rappel 25 meters (82 feet) down.
Muyenga is the only outdoor rock-climbing crag in Kampala, Uganda鈥檚 capital, but it is conveniently located for Mr. Ainamaani. The mobile money agent occasionally fits in a late afternoon climbing session before attending church in the evening. Mr. Ainamaani and other committed members of the Mountain Club of Uganda (MCU) climb at the quarry up to three times a week.
The MCU was established in 1945 by the geography department of Makerere University, with an initial focus on exploring nature and documenting the region鈥檚 biodiversity, including the country鈥檚 fabled gorillas. By 1953, the club had published a guidebook.
Why We Wrote This
The Mountain Club of Uganda is increasing community exposure to climbing. Roughly a decade ago, it had only a handful of Ugandan members. These days, 60% of new climbers are locals, and from all walks of life.
The MCU鈥檚 trajectory is upward bound. The number of members has soared from fewer than 20 in 2016 to more than 200 today. Nearly all of their gear has come from donations from foreign climbers and sports associations. Roughly a decade ago, previous club president Douglas Ssebbowa says, there were only a handful of Ugandan MCU members. These days, 60% of new climbers are locals, and from all walks of life.
Along with David Masika, the current president, and MCU members Albert Abayo and Celine Jacobs, Mr. Ssebbowa is keen on increasing community exposure to the sport. This group is working as part of a social enterprise project to construct Mwamba, Uganda鈥檚 first world-class climbing gym.
To make the sport more accessible, the gym will offer affordable pricing, communal climbing sessions, and inclusive instruction designed for individuals of all abilities.聽
The new gym 鈥渋s not just an obligation, but my personal goal,鈥� Mr. Ssebbowa says.聽
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