Who are the 'Friends of Kagando'?

Who are the Trustees of 'Friends of Kagando'?

The 'Friends' principle activities

Kagando partnerships and links

Donations and where the money goes?

'Friends of Kagando'                                                                                        (top of page)

'Friends of Kagando' is a UK based charitable Trust formed to support Kagando Hospital and Rural Development Centre and its local community.  In liaison with the leadership in Kagando they raise funds and collect medical and other supplies for regular container shipment to Kagando and advise on project priorities and management.  They also aim to provide an information network for well-wishers and past workers and visitors and to encourage and inform future visitors or longer term workers.

Visitors fall into two main groups.  The first includes those with a particular expertise who wish to broaden their experience or develop an additional skill and are willing to face the challenges of providing services within the severely restricted financial and other material resources that are common in Africa.  The second group includes those without a specific expertise, but who wish to inform themselves of the needs in this part of Africa and to contribute to practical projects, informed fund-raising or pastoral support in areas of identified need in whatever way they can .  People in one often develop into the other and many become involved in supporting future specific or general projects and help to sustain the enthusiasm felt both inside and outside Uganda for this centre of excellence.

The charity is managed by a board of Trustees made up of members who have either been past long-term service workers at Kagando or are frequent visitors and include some independent well-wishers who are in sympathy with the aims of the charity and have particular relevant skills.  They meet regularly and are in frequent contact with the leadership in Kagando.  They fully support the basis of Christian faith, mission and purpose for which KARUDEC was founded.  Although the Ugandan local leadership is Anglican, the Charity is interdenominational in outlook.

Friends can be Members or Subscribers.  Both will receive regular newsletters.  Members will have worked in or visited Kagando or made a financial or other commitment and will be invited to general meetings of the Charity when these are required. Subscribers are those who would like to stay informed and may wish to become Members in the future. 

Principle Activities                                                                                       (top of page)

The Friends principle activities are:

- Fund-Raising,

- Co-operation and liaison with Kagando local leadership

- Sending medical and other supplies in containers to Kagando

- Advice and information to and from visitors

The Trustees administer the newsletter, the main content of which is drafted by the leadership in Uganda and includes their requests for prayer.  They try to keep in contact with other Kagando well-wishers in the UK and other countries outside Uganda and provide a channel for funds from other individuals and organisations.

The Trustees wish to acknowledge, on behalf of KARUDEC and the people of Kagando, the many regular and special donations made by members and other well wishers without any prompting or special activity by the Trustees.  These gifts are the backbone of the Charity.  Many substantial single donations have been made.  However the needs remain enormous and the Charity is planning to increase its activity in preparation for some large and important projects, while supporting smaller projects and urgent needs.  Priority is given to projects that have a chance of increasing the future income flow to Kagando from within Uganda and provide a strong infrastructure for the future.

There are few opportunities for the local population to earn income from outside their own District.  Funds will always be required to support them, particularly through the use of the local 'Compassion Fund' for those in particular difficulties.  The hospital would have to lower its standards of care if it did not receive help from overseas.

The Microfinance project is an efficient method locally administered method of funding small projects to enable local people to reduce their dependence on subsistence farming.  Loans are short-term and low interest and all returned capital is recycled.  New non-returnable capital from donors is an excellent way of improving conditions in the local community.

Click here to see the founding statement of aims and objectives of 'Friends of Kagando'

Partnerships and Links to the 'Friends of Kagando'                                      (top of page)

The charity would particularly like to encourage formal and informal links between Kagando and Health Trusts, Universities, Private and Public Companies, Government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and any others willing to take an interest in Kagando and help to raise funds.  They believe that many in the UK and elsewhere have much to gain by the experience sharing the struggles of their Uganda colleagues in their efforts to improve the lives of people within very limited resources.  The purpose of such partnerships would be to share information and avoid duplication of effort or misunderstandings while maximising fund-raising and other activity for the benefit to the whole community. 

As examples: The Kagando Mission Hospital Foundation Inc. based in the United States has given considerable support to KARUDEC projects, particularly with regard to access to clean water.  The German Medical Mission Team provides staff, currently one doctor but until recently two doctors and a pharmacist.  Africa Inland Mission (AIM) has supported two physiotherapists for between one and three years.   A number of Churches have made Kagando the subject of special appeals and donations over several years and have supported individual mission partners or Trustees or other members. The Church Mission Society (CMS) supported a paediatric nursing sister from the UK until recently.  Another UK Charity, NOTDEC, supports a nearby orphanage with strong links to Kagando.

The reputation of Kagando as an effective, active, committed and welcoming African hospital and community attracts many Visitors.  These include Medical Students from within Uganda, North America and Europe and even Australia on their 'elective' placements.  The University of Loeven in Belgium supervises senior nurse students for attachments of up to five months as part of their nurse training.  Trustees and other members of the 'Friends' are well-placed to advise and encourage these attachments.

Donated money                                                                                     (top of page)

Main Groups for use of funds:

KARUDEC* Revenue / Capital / Container contents and transport / Non-KARUDEC

*Kagando Rural Development Centre (KARUDEC) is the umbrella organisation owned and managed by the Church of Uganda that is responsible for Kagando Hospital and its surrounding developments.

Revenue Support, particularly for Kagando Hospital:  Includes Salaries; Medicines; the patient 'compassion' fund for those unable to pay fees etc.  A current initiative is the 'Sponsor-a-Nurse' campaign, arising from a cash-flow crisis in 2006, which resulted in late payment of nurse salaries.  This does not support particular named nurses but aims to prevent a recurrence of the problem, which could have resulted in experienced and dedicated staff being obliged to seek work elsewhere.  It guaranteed a minimum income per month from the 'Friends', which has mostly been exceeded.  It was estimated that funding 20 nurses for three years would allow KARUDEC to eliminate its operating budget deficit with any surplus being used for staffing developments.

Capital Projects - The current phase of KARUDEC buildings is almost complete, but there is a shortage of furniture and equipment in the school of nursing and midwifery, the primary school and the vocational school extension and the mother's hostel.

Three large projects are under discussion

1. A new hydro-electric scheme with sufficient surplus capacity to raise revenue by selling to the national grid

2. A new theatre building, maternity delivery suite expansion and refurbishment, paediatric department expansion.

3. A ward of 'amenity' beds. 

These projects will be the subject of future bulletins, news updates and appeals.

CONTAINERS                                                                                                          (top of page)

The Medical Mission News (MMN)Charity runs an excellent container service to Uganda for the benefit of both Kagando and Kisiizi Hospitals.  Almost all the equipment is provided free either as surplus from the NHS or by donation, but there are sometimes costs associated with refurbishing, servicing or packaging equipment and transporting it to the MMN depot in Essex.  Operating as a charity MMN subsidises the costs, but also requires proportional donations for the goods it sets to transfer.

Non-KARUDEC Projects in the Kagando - These arise mainly from personal relationships between members who have visited or lived in Kagando who wish to support nearby church and school projects and individuals involved in important community work.

Click here for a table and pie chart showing how Friends of Kagando donations were spent in 2007

Donors                                                                                                                 (top of page)

Using its charitable status the Friends can reclaim tax from 'gift-aided' contributions from any UK tax payer in order to add to the value of the gift.  The charity can also act as a conduit for GB Sterling funds for specific Kagando projects from and will transfer money safely from organisations, companies or individuals to the leadership at Kagando.  These do not have to be for projects recommended by the Friends, nor does it preclude donors making separate arrangements with the leadership in Kagando if they so wish, but it is recommended that the 'Friends' are used for such transfers in order to provide some level of accountability and documentation and to reduce some costs.  Donors are never identified publically, or to Members of the Charity or even to Trustees other than the Treasurer or their assistant, unless this is specifically authorised or requested by the donor.

Designation by donors for use of Donated Funds                                                  (top of page)

As a generalisation, it is most helpful if donors do not specify too prescriptively the work to which they wish their donation to apply.  The precise use of funds has to rest ultimately with the leadership in Kagando, who must balance the needs of the whole service, and cope with unexpected eventualities and costs.  The Trustees of 'Friends of Kagando' have a good relationship with the management team in Kagando and have access to the accounts of the organisation.  Although information has sometimes been slow, they are happy to endorse the KARUDEC management integrity and probity at this time (2008).

In the DVD 'Window on Kagando' produced by the 'Friends',  the Director, Canon Benson Baguma makes a generous assertion that those providing funds can feel they 'own' the project, but this should not be taken too literally.  Their contribution made it happen and they can influence but not dictate the details of design and future use  A donation for a project that incurs revenue consequences that are not funded will either be a future burden for the recipient, or just lie idle and unused.  This is a particular risk with building projects.

Role of the Trustees                                                                                              (top of page)

The Trustees of 'Friends of Kagando' are responsible for the management and financial probity of the Charity and all donations and transfers of funds through its accounts.  The Trustees themselves take no fees from the Charity for administering its affairs, nor for subsistence or travel while on Trustee business within the UK or in Uganda.

Detailed accounts from KARUDEC and 'The Friends' that are in the public domain are available on request.  Use the comments section of the ' Join the Mailing List' option or send an email to admin@friendsofkagando.org.uk or write to the Chairman of the Trustees at the address below.