Seven-month-old Kadenya Harmony from Kigumba District, one-and-a-half-year-old Okileng Aphluis from Bukedea, and fourteen-year-old Mwesigwa Rahim from Wakiso may come from different parts of Uganda, but they share one painful reality: congenital heart disease. Together with 22 other children across the country, they needed lifesaving heart surgery—treatment they could not access locally. Thanks to Rotary’s intervention, these children are now able to receive the much-needed surgeries at Amrita Hospital in Kochin, India.The Little Hearts Project, being implemented this Rotary year in District 9213, seeks to reduce the alarming rates of heart disease in Uganda by addressing the backlog of children awaiting heart surgery at the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI). While some cases can be handled at UHI, others must be referred abroad due to various limitations. District Governor Geoffrey Kitakule has called on Rotary Clubs to unite and rally partners for a multi-pronged approach in the fight against heart disease.
Four Avenues of Impact
Assisting children who cannot afford surgery is just one part of the initiative. The Little Hearts Project has identified four practical and impactful avenues to make a difference:
- Sponsoring Surgeries – Supporting children who cannot afford lifesaving operations.
- Promoting Preventive Health – Creating awareness about healthy living to reduce risks linked to heart disease. Issues such as obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, and untreated infections like coughs are preventable when the public is well-informed.
- Equipping Regional Referral Hospitals – Establishing heart screening centres to make checkups like ECGs and echocardiograms affordable and accessible, reducing the need for long trips to Kampala.
- Training Health Workers – Building local capacity by training medical personnel in referral hospitals to manage the centres, supported through fellowships at UHI or sponsored Vocational Training Teams.
Cohorts in Action
So far, three cohorts have been formed under the Little Hearts Project:
Western Cohort: Led by the Rotary Club of Upper Kololo, working with partner clubs to establish a Heart Screening and Treatment Centre at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital.
- Northern Cohort: Led by the Rotary Club of Kampala South, covering all Regional Referral Hospitals in Greater Northern Uganda. Partners include RC Kiwatule, RC Arua, RC Arua Echo City, RC Adjumani, RC Yumbe, RC Moyo, and RC Nebbi, alongside Rotaract Clubs of Arua, Arua School of Nursing, Maracha, and Muni University.
- Eastern Cohort: Led by the Rotary Club of Kampala, in partnership with RC Kasangati, RC Sonde, RC Ngora, RC Soroti Central, RC Mbale, RC Busia, plus the Rotaract Clubs of Soroti University and Kampala City.
Each cohort is working towards implementing Global Grants and mobilizing local partners to sustain project activities over the next two to three years. The Uganda Heart Institute has welcomed the initiative and pledged full technical support.
Project Contacts
- James Serugo (RC Kampala) – 0782 822208
- Rtn. Adeka Boniface (RC Kampala) – 0704 604486
- Rtn. Jane Langoya (RC Kampala South) – 0782 747007
- Rtn. Wendy (RC Kampala South) – 0772 422278
- Rtn. Filbert Kinyanda (RC Upper Kololo) – 0702 007070