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
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
HOW WE GOT HERE
Key Milestones
Andrew Stuart skis a Rwenzori glacier on a break from a reconnaissance mission; writes it up as "Ski Championship at the Equator," retroactively founding the club as a joke.
1955
Dominic Richard tracks down Stuart, revives interest in the club, and gets snowboarders officially admitted as members.
1996
Florian Knollmann hears the story, travels to Kilembe to ski the mountain, and decides to reboot Ski Club Uganda with a real conservation mission.
2023
Ski Club Uganda formally founded as a nonprofit; partnership with Rwenzori Trekking Services begins.
2024
Research and education partnership established with Makerere University and Penn State.
First Ugandan local skis the mountain, using gear donated by SCU.
2025
First Penn State–sponsored student cohort travels to Kilembe for official, funded course-credit fieldwork.
2027 - COMING SOON!
THE MOUNTAINS
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.
What we can — and can't — do: we can't stop the glaciers from melting. What we can do is help Kilembe's community adapt: stabilizing slopes, reducing mudslide and flood risk, and building a more resilient local economy around it.
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.
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.