UGANDA SCOUTS ASSOCIATION
YEAR FOUNDED: 1915
Started by: Rev. Cannon Grace at Mbarara High School (1915)
Affiliation: World Organization of the Scout Movement
HEAD QUARTERS: Baden Powell House, Kampala, Buganda Road
PATRON: H.E. Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Chief Scout: Professor, Salongo, Hajji Badru Kateregga
Chairman National Scouts Council: Odora Oryem
National Executive Commissioner: Mr. Kizito Ashraf
Chief Commissioner: Mrs. Alice Nyiramahoro
MOTTOS: “Be prepared” (Uwe Tayari in Swahili) for juniors, “Do your best” for cub scouts,
“Look wide” for venture scouts, “Service” for rover scouts.
The Scout Motto generally is Be Prepared, which is “Uwe Tayari” in Swahili.
Father of the scouts’ movement: Lord Robert Baden-Powell (he founded the movement in
1910). He died in 1941 and was buried in Kenya at St Peters Cemetery in Nyeri. Whose
grave bears a circle with a dot in the centre "ʘ" which is a sign for “I have gone home” or
“Going home”
PROMISE
Honor God and My country.
Obey the Scout law.
Help others.
OATH
On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, to obey the scout law,
to help other people at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake &
morally straight.
SCOUT LAW
A Scouts’ honor is to be trusted, loyal, helpful, friendly, respectful and kind, and conserve
nature, obedient, cheerful and courageous, thrifty, clean in thought, word and deed.
Trusted: You should tell the truth and keep promises because people can depend on you.
Loyal: You should care about your family, friends, scout leaders and your country.
Helpful: You should volunteer to help others without expecting a reward.
Friendly: You should be friendly & welcoming to everyone even the people different from
you.
Respectful & Kind: You should be polite to everyone and always use good manners.
Conserve nature: You should lead by example in environmental management practices.
Obedient: You should obey the laws of your community & country.
Cheerful: You should look for the bright side of life, try to help others be happy.
Courageous: You should face difficult situations even when you feel afraid.
Thrifty: Try not to be wasteful, use time, food, supplies & natural resources wisely.
Clean: You should help keep your community clean, keep your body & mind clean & fit.
Scouting Experience has got four programs according to age and activities as shown below:
Cub Scouting: This is for children within the age bracket 6-11 years.
Exploring (Juniors): This is for children within the age bracket of 12-15 years
Venturing: This is for teenagers within the age bracket of 16-17 years.
Rovering: This is for adults.
SCOUT SIGN, SALUTE AND HANDSHAKE
Scouts should also know the Scout Sign, Salute and Handshake. These signs are used to
greet other Scouts, to show that you’re are a member and to show respect in official
ceremonies.
SCOUT SIGN
The Scout Sign is used whenever you giving the Scout Oath or Law. To do the Scout Sign, you
raise your right arm to shoulder height and then bend your elbow making a 90-degree
angle. With your hand upwards, cover the nail of your pinkie and keep the other 3 fingers
upwards.
The 3 fingers of the Scout Sign represent the duties listed in the Scout Oath: Duty to God
and Country, Duty to Others, and Duty to Self.
SCOUT SALUTE
The Scout Salute is done by forming the Scout Sign and then placing your pointer finger
against your brow. The Scout Salute is used whenever you say the pledge of allegiance in
Scouting or during official ceremonies like a flag retirement. The Scout Salute should only
ever be while in your Class A uniform. Anytime you would do the Scout Salute and are not in
your Class A, simply place your right hand over your heart
SCOUT HANDSHAKE
The Scout Handshake is the same as a normal handshake except it is done with the left hand
instead of the right. This is done because the left hand is closest to the heart and it signifies
the connection and friendship between Scouts.
Because only Scouts use the left-handed handshake, use a normal handshake when greeting
someone not in Scouts.
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO GREET FELLOW SCOUTS WITH YOUR LEFT HAND
The World Scout Emblem (Badge) “fleur de lis”
The World Scout Badge, also known as the World Scout Emblem, is a symbol of unity and
brotherhood within the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). It's worn on
Scout uniforms globally, signifying membership and commitment to Scouting principles.
The badge is white on a royal purple background. These colors are symbolic as well. In
heraldry, white represents purity and royal purple indicates leadership and help given to
other people.
