Joan Rwabyomere, the Ugandan high commissioner to the UK, was given a warm welcome when she paid a long awaited visit last week.

And she left park staff and children highly impressed with her enthusiasm for the Queen Elizabeth Twinning Project.
The venture has been set up to forge a bond between communities near QECP in East Hampshire and the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.

Steve Peach, conservation ranger at QECP, said: "She agreed some while ago to become patron of the twinning project, and she has been trying to get here for a visit ever since then.

"Everyone who met her was very impressed by her friendliness and enthusiasm. She is quite a regal lady, but also has the common touch."
Among the people she met during her visit were children from Hart Plain Junior School, who are studying the twinning project.

"The whole idea of the project is that it is not just about the parks, but about the communities around them" said Steve."We want to get schools involved in global citizenship issues."

He said the high commissioner would be making a point of visiting schools in Uganda which are taking part in the project when she is next back in her home country.

Steve visited the QENP earlier this year, and a group of young volunteers at QECP are currently fundraising so they can go next year.

Their next venture is a sponsored cycle ride from the Ugandan Embassy in London to QECP this Sunday.

The twinning project came about after Steve met Charles Etoru, his counterpart at QENP at an international ranger federation congress in South Africa.

It has won the support of the Ugandan Wildlife Authority, Hampshire County Council, the Forestry Commission and the English Ranger Federation.

Steve said: "The aim is to promote cultural exchange and mutual support, with emphasis on supporting conservation through working closely with local communities.

"In both parks there are people wanting to do increasingly diverse activities.

"Unlike many twinning projects, cultural excchange is encouraged not between dignitaries but those working on the ground.

"Money raised is always put to good use, assisting local community groups and schools near the QENP, through buying books and refurbishing classrooms, as well as providing the Ugandan park rangers with equipment.

"The Ugandan people certainly appreciate the material assistance the project has provided, but they are just as pleased with our friendship.

"I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the people I have met and I have grown to realise just how valuable a thing it is that we are doing."

To find out more about the project should go to the website queenelizabethparks.org