Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody on going to Uganda
Gary Lightbody, frontman of Snow Patrol, travelled to northern Uganda with Save the Children visting some of the poorest communities in the world.
Thursday 22 November 2007
Gary Lightbody:
"It will be Gordon Brown's first visit to Africa as Prime Minister when he joins other world leaders in Uganda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, on 23-25 November. In the south the capital, Kampala, will be "beautified" but, as far as we know, none of the heads of state will visit the impoverished north to see how Uganda is emerging from war, let alone meet the families traumatised by two decades of violence."
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More about Snow Patrol's visit
Snow Patrol were hosted by Save the Children on a visit to Northern Uganda. The Band members, singer Gary Lightbody and drummer Jonny Quinn, visited schools and hospitals in Northern Uganda. The schools are supported by Save the Children's Rewrite the Future campaign to provide education for children in conflict-affected areas. Twenty years of conflict in Northern Uganda destroyed many schools and today nearly half of all six-year-olds do not go to school.
Moses Cik, Emergency Education adviser for Save the Children in Uganda said:
"Snow Patrol have been supporting our work to provide education to children in conflict affected areas and it's been a great opportunity for them to see first hand the impact of our work. They also heard from local people their desire for the peace process to hold and move forward so that they can return home and start to rebuild their lives."
Gary Lightbody said:
"We were invited to come here by Save the Children and Oxfam Ireland to learn more about the everyday situation for people in Uganda. We have been inspired by the people we have met, those working to bring about change despite extraordinary hardship."
Jonny Quinn said:
"Uganda is an incredible country and we have been thoroughly welcomed throughout our visit. We have seen firsthand the work being done to support children and families living in extreme poverty."
Snow Patrol are a Grammy Award nominated rock band from Northern Ireland. Their fourth album, Eyes Open, has sold 4 million copies worldwide, making it the biggest selling British album of 2006. They've sold out arena shows around the world.
Snow Patrol helped launch Save the Children's global campaign Rewrite the Future to provide education for children in conflict affected countries. They have also given the proceeds from two singles to support Save the Children's overseas work.
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