History of Ski Club Uganda

Ski Club Uganda was born out of a playful adventure and the humor of a British colonial officer named Andrew Stuart. Inspired by a joke in the 1940s, Stuart—who founded the original "Ski Club Uganda"—welcomed anyone who skied Mt. Rwenzori to join. In 1955, while on a reconnaissance mission in the Rwenzori Mountains, Stuart and his companions decided to ski down a glacier for fun. He later wrote a humorous article about this experience for the Uganda Argus, which was picked up by the New York Herald under the title “Ski Championships at the Equator.” Proud of their impromptu adventure, Stuart retroactively founded Ski Club Uganda to commemorate the event.

The club remained largely a legend until fifty years later, when a Swiss adventurer named Dominic Richard discovered the story and decided to turn the legend into reality by creating a real community and platform. Tracking down Stuart, now a retired officer, Dominic found him delighted that snow sports were still being pursued in the Rwenzori. Stuart even approved the inclusion of snowboarders in the club. Today, Ski Club Uganda continues to celebrate the spirit of adventure and the unique experience of skiing in one of Africa’s most extraordinary mountain ranges, with a mission to celebrate this unique history, connect adventurers with local guiding companies, and use the club as a force for positive environmental and community impact.

Story of the Rwenzoris

The Rwenzori Mountains, often called the “Mountains of the Moon,” are a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for their extraordinary biodiversity and dramatic landscapes. Spanning five distinct ecological zones—from lush grasslands and montane forests to bamboo, heather, and afro-alpine regions—these mountains serve as a crossroads for African mountain species and are home to numerous endemic plants and animals.

Once, the Rwenzori glaciers were a vital water source for surrounding communities, but today they are rapidly melting, contributing only about 2% of local floodwaters, with predictions that the glaciers could vanish entirely by 2030.

This environmental change has profound local impacts: the region attracts fewer tourists compared to Mount Kilimanjaro, and the loss of glaciers threatens both income and environmental stability.
As deforestation for agriculture increases, the area faces more frequent mudslides and a hotter, dustier climate, further endangering the livelihoods and natural heritage of those who call the Rwenzoris home.