The people of South Western Uganda do not have money. In many cases, literally. And those who spend 5 hours a day throwing bricks (from one to another in a chain to move dry bricks to a big pile for the next stage of brick making) earn 5,000 Ush a day, roughly £1.25. Because of this, the majority of Ruhangan people have never set foot in the capital of their country and sit in a vehicle only a few times a year. Few houses have the opportunity of electricity, so on the days when there is electricity in Ruhanga, everyone floods to the local bars or the Lodge to enjoy the bar, TV and pool table. When we also don't have electricity, people simply go to bed. We Mzungus go on safari, Gorilla trekking, visit the lakes, all of which are distant dreams for a child growing up here. However, I am reluctant to say the people of South Western Uganda are poor. It is tradition that fathers must give their sons a share of their land (daughters share their husband's) which means most people have their own land. They then build their own houses and grow their own food. Ugandan soil is rich and they say "anything you drop with grow". Therefore, the "poorest" people have their own house and endless food (albeit lacking in variety). Taxes, if paid, are paid once in their lives and are only around £5. Most families own a few goats, chickens and/or cows, for milk, eggs and meat. The countryside here is stunning. Lush smelling banana plantations, dotted with mango, avocado and passion fruit trees, pineapple plants and birds of all sizes and colours. Streams and waterfalls form in the valleys and tall rolling hills stretch on for miles. Because of the wealth of food growing here, it is acceptable to pick fruit from other people's trees and should you meet someone as you wander, they are likely to invite you in for food. In fact, in terms of Ruhanga, people cook too much in case they get visitors, and if it's not eaten, they don't save it, they throw it away. So, dear parents, when your children are refusing to eat their food and you mention starving "African" children as a generalisation, you are lying to them. Maybe it's worth mentioning the poor starving children of Tower Hamlets, London instead?

Life here is simple. Most work in the fields, build their own houses and do hard manual work for a meagre wage, but life here is not hard as we know it. When the rains are heavy, life pauses, if you choose not to work, you can still eat, and due to lack of electricity, people simply stop when it gets dark at 7pm. Ruhanga is rich with sun, rain, food, water, materials, animals and beauty. Ruhanga is rich with all the essentials of life, and most importantly, when you walk through the plantations and houses and see the children smiling, laughing, dancing and singing, it is clear Ruhanga is rich with happiness.