About us
History
Kigungu Kids Educare is an officially registered Community Based Organization (CBO) Entebbe, Uganda. The organization was founded by Francis Lubuulwa in 2018 in Kigungu, a little village at the Lake Victoria. The goal of the KigunguKids EduCare charity is to provide support for children through education during our search for godparents which are able to sponsor their school fees.
At the beginning Francis was able to support 10 families through donations. Today 35 families with its children receive regular support, mostly thanks to Kigungu Kids’ godparent program and regular donations.
Curious about Francis’ Story?
“I am Francis Lubuulwa, the founder of Kigungu Kids Educare. I was born in Kigungu in 1998. My father passed away when I was very young. Since then, my mother has been a single parent, raising me and my four siblings on her own. She struggled to finance our education and only one of us kids managed to graduate from school. Some years ago, I also began pursuing my own studies. However, I was compelled to discontinue due to a lack of financial support.
I returned to Kigungu and since 2018, I have been assisting my community, particularly families with children, in managing their finances and providing support for various needs, including education.
“I had noticed a troubling pattern here in Kigungu. Many children are brought up in fishing families where parents struggle to afford school fees for their kids. Consequently, these children often end up following in their fathers’ footsteps, becoming fishermen themselves, or facing unemployment, similar to their mothers. Kigungu girls face their own challenges too. At a young age, they often experience pregnancies, lack proper education and frequently become single mothers for life.
In Kigungu, we also confront a significant HIV spread due to a lack of education in this area. I believe that this cycle couldn’t continue. Such a way of life wouldn’t lead Kigungu’s younger generation or the broader community towards progress. I aimed to break this cycle and provide our youth with opportunities for growth. My goal was to support the community in a way that prevents them from experiencing the same level of poverty I did.”
How KKEC was born
Francis started this organization because it was his desire to help his village and to see every kid going to school and not suffering from hunger. He believes we can change the village of Kigungu by becoming entrepreneurs, who can create jobs, who can self-sustain themselves, live more sustainable lives and run business on all levels. This won’t happen if the Kigungu community, especially the youth, misses education.
This is why our primary focus has been, from the outset, on financing education. We firmly believe that education is the key to eradicating poverty. To enable Kigungu children to attend school, we regularly collect donations from sponsors around the world, largely through our godparents program.
KKEC Today
Kigungu Kids Educare is an organization that is continuously expanding. Francis receives support from volunteers worldwide, who assist him in coordinating donation campaigns, as well as in developing the organization itself by managing the website, providing regular updates and improving communication and transparency. Moreover, the organization’s ultimate aim is to attain the status of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). As an NGO, Kigungu Kids Educare could wield greater influence in doing good. We will operate within the gaps of the existing system, striving to address injustice and create new opportunities. Our aspiration is to collaborate with other organizations to tackle systemic issues not only at the local level but also on a national scale. Since 2022, Muhamudu Nsamu has assumed the position of Managing Director and has been providing steadfast support to Francis in handling all arising tasks.
In 2023, we made the decision to exclusively focus on our educational objectives. We initiated a program with the aim of providing education to the children in our village who are unable to afford school attendance while we search for their sponsors. In that very year, the team underwent further expansion when Lukas Wirtz, a former volunteer, assumed the role of Program Coordinator.
Collaborating with the volunteers, this now three-member team is dedicated to shaping a prosperous future for the organization and, in turn, for the children of Kigungu.
Our Nursery School
At the beginning of 2024, thanks to a generous donation, we were able to rent a small building and realize our dream of establishing our own nursery school. Since then, approximately 60 children have regularly attended our classes. As our primary goal is not profit-oriented, and we only aim to cover our operational expenses, our school fees are kept at a minimum. However, we acknowledge the financial challenges that many families encounter. Therefore, we view the fees more as a form of voluntary parental support. Our ultimate objective is to ensure that no child is excluded from attending our school due to financial constraints. Everyone is welcome, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Looking ahead, we rely on continued donations to sustain our school programs. Additionally, we are actively seeking sponsors for children who have aged out of our school but still require support.
Meet the Team
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Francis Lubuulwa
Founder, CEO & Head of Volunteer Program
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Muhamudu Nsumu
Project Manager & School Principal
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Lukas Wirtz
Program Coordinator & Website Manager
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Magret Nakaembe
Teacher - Baby Class
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Irene Namusoke
Teacher - Middle Class
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Lydia Nakamya
Teacher - Top Class
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Sumaya Nasuuna
Teaching Assistant
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Christine Babirye
Cook
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Juliane Horst
Fundraising Team Member