Subject
Missions -- Uganda Books
Best books
Ruth B. Fisher
On the borders of pigmy land
"On the borders of pigmy land" by Ruth B. Fisher is a missionary travel memoir written in the early 20th century. It follows a Church Missionary Society worker’s journeys through British East Africa and Uganda, blending vivid travel narrative with portraits of local peoples, landscapes, and emerging Christian communities. Expect accounts of royal courts and village life, hard overland travel, and the spiritual aims and practical trials of mission work on the edge of so‑called “Pigmy” country. The opening of this memoir traces the author’s 1900 arrival at Mombasa, a brief stay at Freretown, and an arduous run up the Uganda Railway—heat, dust, and famine along the line—into the highlands and a flooded railhead where camps are raised in storms. It then follows her first caravan march by bicycle through Masai country, mishaps that leave the party divided and camping rough, a dhow crossing of Lake Victoria after a steamer wreck, and landfall near Mengo with a jubilant welcome and glimpses of thriving church life, the hospital, and the child-king’s court. Chosen to help pioneer work in Toro, she treks over swamps and ridges; illness forces companions to turn back, but she and Miss Pike press on, observe village customs (including a comic wedding), and reach Kabarole to an overwhelming reception. The opening also sketches Toro’s setting—crater lakes, the snows of Ruwenzori, violent storms, lightning fires, and abundant wildlife—and closes with the bare-bones start to home life: a mud-and-thatch house furnished from packing cases, spoiled supplies, and reliance on garden produce and stores.
Carl Schneider
Der Held von Uganda: Leben und Wirken des Pioniermissionars Alexander Mackay
"Der Held von Uganda: Leben und Wirken des Pioniermissionars Alexander Mackay" by Carl Schneider is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book chronicles the life and missionary work of Alexander Mackay, focusing on his significant contributions to the missionary efforts in Uganda during the late 19th century. It delves into his upbringing, education, and the challenges he faced in establishing a Christian presence in the region. The opening of the work sets the stage for Mackay's story, describing the impetus for the Uganda mission initiated by explorer Henry M. Stanley's passionate article urging English Christians to support the mission. It introduces Mackay as a gifted youth, educated in a devout household, whose early interests in practical sciences equipped him for future challenges. As he embarks on his journey to Uganda, the text foreshadows the trials he will encounter while providing insight into his deep faith, commitment to education, and practical skills that he will deploy in his revolutionary work among the people of Uganda.
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