About Child and Family Foundation Uganda

Our Story

Child and Family Foundation Uganda (CFU) was established in 2012 out of a shared urgency to confront the glaring inequalities in Uganda’s health and social care landscape. At the time, the situation in many peri-urban slums of Kampala was alarming—expectant mothers were forced to walk over five kilometers to access even the most basic antenatal services. Healthcare was out of reach not just geographically, but financially and socially. For those living in poverty—especially women, children, and persons with disabilities—being left behind was not an exception; it was the norm.

It was in this context that a group of concerned professionals came together: pediatricians, community health workers, and local church leaders, united by a common conviction that health and dignity should not depend on where a person is born or how much money they have. Together, they formed what they called a “coalition of care”—a grassroots alliance driven by compassion, justice, and a belief in the power of local action. Their vision was bold but grounded: to build a center where no one is turned away, where healthcare is not a privilege but a right, and where support starts at birth and continues through every stage of life.

From its earliest days, CFU committed itself to a holistic, family-centered approach to development. The organization was designed to go beyond charity or emergency relief—it aimed to tackle the root causes of poor health, poverty, and social exclusion. Four core principles guided its work:

• Comprehensive maternal and newborn care, offered without discrimination, ensuring that no mother or child is denied access due to inability to pay. CFU provides antenatal services, safe delivery support, immunizations, postnatal follow-ups, and family planning, all under one roof.
• Early childhood development and nutritional support, particularly during the first 1,000 days of life—a period scientifically proven to shape a child’s physical and cognitive future. CFU intervenes early to prevent stunting, support responsive parenting, and provide stimulation that boosts lifelong learning.
• Livelihood empowerment for youth and women, equipping them with practical skills, access to startup capital, and entrepreneurship mentoring. By helping families generate income, CFU tackles the broader structural drivers of poverty and builds household resilience.
• Inclusion and support for persons with disabilities, who often suffer neglect, isolation, and economic dependence. CFU creates a safe, respectful space for therapy, rehabilitation, rights advocacy, and income-generating activities tailored to the abilities and aspirations of each individual.

This integrated model—blending clinic-based services with door-to-door outreach, vocational training, and rigorous community-based research—is what sets CFU apart. The goal is not just to deliver short-term interventions, but to create lasting change. Every service, every program, and every outreach visit is designed with sustainability in mind. CFU does not work in isolation. It partners with local communities, public institutions, and development agencies to build systems that outlast projects and budgets.

Today, CFU stands as a practical example of how a locally-driven initiative can grow into a trusted institution—one that listens to its communities, responds with empathy, and delivers results grounded in evidence. It remains rooted in the belief that real progress comes when families are supported not just medically, but socially and economically, and when dignity is placed at the heart of every interaction.