BETHANYKIDS UGANDA

Based in Mbarara, our team of pediatric surgeons, nurses, therapists, and chaplains work daily to bring healing and hope to hard to reach vulnerable children and their families—most of whom would otherwise have no access to care.

OUR REALITY

Uganda is home to 22 million children but has only 11 pediatric surgeons—and just 2 of them serve outside the capital. BethanyKids is uniquely positioned and deeply committed to expanding access to surgical care for children in rural Uganda.

PEDIATRIC SURGERY + CLINICAL CARE

- - - - Surgical repair (both congenital and acquired)
      - Postoperative and Peri-operative Care
      - Fellowship Training (COSECSA)

REHABILITATION CARE

- - - - Physiotherapy, OT, wheelchairs and orthopaedic technology
        
        Mobile clinics in underserved rural regions
        
        Bowel and Bladder Programs

SPIRITUAL + HOLISTIC CARE

- - - - Daily chaplaincy and devotions
        
        Partnerships with churches
        
        Counselling and prayer circles

OUTREACH + AWARENESS

- - - - Surgical Camps (Rukungiri, Kisoro…)
        
        Community Education
        
        Training of local health workers

Every child we serve is a testament to love made tangible. Whether through healing hands in surgery, gentle care in therapy, or the joy of a simple smile, we are devoted to restoring hope, dignity, and the quiet strength that every vulnerable child deserves’’.

Ivan Nuwagaba

Country Director - BethanyKids Uganda

A Few Stories

Everyday there are lives transformed and it’s impossible to share them all, so here are a few from just this summer.

Mugabe Joel

Breaking the Silence: Joel’s Journey to Healing

For two painful years, 17-year-old Mugabe Joel suffered in silence with a hydrocele, too afraid to speak up to his strict father. Isolated and ashamed, he began avoiding his friends and losing hope.

Everything changed when Joel heard a BethanyKids radio ad about a free surgical camp. With his mother’s support, he made the journey to Mbarara Hospital and received the surgery he desperately needed—all at no cost.

Today, Joel is pain-free, confident, and back in school. For him, healing wasn’t just physical—it was a new beginning, filled with courage, freedom, and hope.

Mugisha Samuel

A Refugee Boy’s Fight for Life: Mugisha Samuel’s Story

Seven-year-old Mugisha Samuel lives in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, where access to medical care is limited. When he developed a life-threatening abdominal infection, his mother—having just given birth—had no way to get him help.

That’s when a neighbour, Stephania, stepped in. She brought Samuel to BethanyKids at Mbarara Hospital, where he was diagnosed with peritonitis and rushed into emergency surgery.

Thanks to the generosity of people like you, Samuel not only survived, but is now on his way to recovery—healthy, smiling, and full of hope for the future.

Masika

Swallowed by Danger: Masika’s Survival Story
Little Masika, from a rural Ugandan village, accidentally swallowed button batteries that lodged in her stomach, leaving her unable to eat solids. Her mother even lost her job trying to care for her. With each passing day, things looked more desperate. Thanks to BethanyKids at Mbarara Hospital, Masika received emergency surgery, clearing the corrosive battery remnants and repairing the damage—all free of charge.

Today, she’s gradually learning to eat again, gaining strength and hope. A small medical accident could have ruined her future, but because of compassionate care—and a community that refused to give up—Masika is on her way back to health.

Nisa

From Isolation to School: Nisa’s Triumph Over Shame
Born to farming parents in a remote village, two-year-old Nisa began growing a mass on her pelvis that made her the target of ridicule at school. Her parents tried traditional herbs for three years, but the lump only grew. Withdrawn and embarrassed, Nisa stopped playing with other children. Then BethanyKids paid for a biopsy, scheduled surgery, and restored her health. Free from the mass, Nisa returned to school and began smiling again.

Her story shows how simple access to medical treatment—not judgment or charity—restored not just her body but her dignity and right to belong.

ACROSS THE COUNTRYSIDE

Uganda is rich in natural resources, but decades of conflict—including a brutal civil war that saw over 20,000 children forced into armed groups—have left deep scars.

Today, nearly half the population is under 15, and over 40% live in poverty. For children with disabilities, access to education, healthcare, and employment is especially limited.

BethanyKids believes the solution lies not in bringing outsiders in, but in equipping Ugandans themselves. That’s why, inspired by the late Dr. Situma’s vision, we began training pediatric surgeons at our teaching hospital in Mbarara—strengthening healthcare from the inside out.

We invite you to be part of that work.