Apolima-Uta has done most of their preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, however, their only problem was there were no Uganda flags to be found in Samoa. 

The village has opted to make the flags themselves. The women of the village have spent time sewing the flags. 

Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa whose diverse landscape encompasses the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains and immense Lake Victoria. The Uganda flag consists of six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red (bottom), a white disc is superimposed at the centre and depicts the national symbol, a grey crowned crane, facing the hoist side.

A chief from Apolima-Uta Salesulu Auapaau Siliva said their preparations are self-funded. They were only given $5,000 from their district council to assist with their preparations. Unfortunately, Salesulu said it was not enough considering what they wanted. 

"Most of our preparations for the meeting are all done. It was very difficult to find the flags of Uganda in any store in Samoa. After a while, we were only left with the option of having our women's committee sew them," he said. 

"We bought materials based on the colours of the flag and had them sew it. If you take a look at the road, we have some flags already flying there, but more are needed," he said.

"We only received $5,000 from our district council but it is not enough, as you know the cost of things is going up. But the majority of the work is self-funded, whatever we have we use it to get some of our preparations done. 

"We do hope that the Government will allow the Uganda participants to visit our village and have a look around."

The work is still in progress and they hope they will finish before the guest arrives in October.