From a joke on a glacier to a working climate partnership.
OUR STORY
In 1955, a British officer named Andrew Stuart skied down a Rwenzori glacier for fun, on a break from a reconnaissance mission. He wrote a tongue-in-cheek article about it, retroactively founded "Ski Club Uganda," and the story sat dormant for decades — a strange footnote in a mountain range few people had heard of.
In the 2000s, a Swiss adventurer named Dominic Richard rediscovered the story and tracked Stuart down, by then a retired officer, who was delighted the tradition had survived. In 2024, that legend became a real organization — with a mission to protect the mountains that made the story possible in the first place.
How it started
THE RWENZORIS
The “Mountains of the Moon”
The Rwenzoris are a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning five distinct ecological zones, from grasslands and montane forest to bamboo, heather, and afro-alpine terrain — home to species found nowhere else in Africa.
The glaciers here are retreating fast, and deforestation for agriculture is making it worse — more mudslides, a hotter and dustier climate, and fewer visitors than nearby Kilimanjaro.
The mountain, the melt, and the people protecting it.
WATCH THE FULL STORY
Our full documentary covers the history, the science, and the community at the center of this work.
We empower communities to adapt to climate change by restoring natural ecosystems, advancing environmental education, and turning tourism and research into tools for resilience and regeneration.
Why We Exist
MISSION
Mountain communities like Kilembe leading on climate resilience — where forests support livelihoods, youth drive conservation, and travelers and locals work together to build a sustainable future.
Where we’re headed
VISION
The moments that shaped us
HOW WE GOT HERE
1955
Andrew Stuart skis the glacier
A British officer makes the his descent of the Rwenzori's ice and founds “Ski Club Uganda” — an oddity that becomes the seed of everything that follows.
2024
We find the story - and rebuild it
Florian Knollman travels to Uganda, reboots the club, and formally launches the nonprofit alongside a new partnership with Rwenzori Trekking Services.
2027
First PSU student cohort
A Penn State–sponsored group joins for official course-credit fieldwork — the first academic cohort of its kind
See everyone (we know of) who’s made the climb, from 1955 to today.
Common questions
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Ski Club Uganda is a registered nonprofit that uses skiing as the hook and the fundraising engine for tree planting, research, and community work on the ground.
The name stems from a joke made by Andrew Stuart and his buddies in 1955, who founded a club of members who have had the honor of skiing the melting glaciers of the Rwenzori mountains.
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The Rwenzori's glaciers are retreating fast and may not last regardless of what any one organization does.
SCU's focus is on what's actually within reach — the watershed, the forest, the community around it — not reversing the glacier's own timeline.
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Yes, but not for long!
Conditions permitting, it is a short descent of a few hundred feet, reached via a high-effort, multi-day trek.
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The melting of the glaciers has caused treacherous mudslides and catastrophic floods.
Planting trees along the Nyamwamba river will help to restore the riverbanks and act as a natural wall, protecting nearby schools, homes, and villages from direct impact.
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All donations and profits from our merch sales go directly towards Ski Club Uganda’s mission.
A very small amount of funds keeps our website and newsletter live.
The majority of funds are used to purchase seeds, host reforestation projects, and support the porters who take care of the trees.
Ready to be a part of the next chapter?
Whether it's a donation, a trip, or a research partnership — here's where to start.