The Judith Nahurira Foundation, led by Ugandan philanthropist, humanitarian, and entrepreneur,
Judith “The Boss Lady UK” has stepped up to provide critical support to the victims of the recent
Kitezi garbage disaster.

On Thursday, August 22nd, the Foundation visited the Red Cross Camp in Kitezi, where survivors andorphans are seeking refuge. In addition to providing immediate relief in the form of food, soap, andother essentials, the Foundation made a significant commitment to educate the children who havelost their parents in the tragedy.

This initiative marks a crucial step, as Judith “The Boss Lady UK” is the first Ugandan civilian, outsideof the Prime Minister’s Office, to offer such long-term support. Her pledge to provide education to over 10 children offers a glimmer of hope for a brighter future.”

I am humbled to be in a position to give back to the community,” said Judith, “The Boss Lady UK.””These children need hope to escape poverty, and with all that I can offer, I will ensure they receive aneducation so their remaining families can focus on survival.”

John Cliff Wamala, leading the Red Cross team at the camp, expressed gratitude for the Foundation’s intervention. “This is something many of us here have been concerned about, and we are thankful toJudith for taking on this significant responsibility,” he said. “We urge more Ugandans to follow this example, as it’s crucial to plan for tomorrow while addressing today’s challenges.”

The Judith Nahurira Foundation has a history of supporting Ugandan communities, including aproject in Kalerwe that has provided interest-free loans to 26 hard-working Ugandans. The Foundation’s mission is clear: “To empower and protect those in need.”

We encourage those who share this mission to partner with the Judith Nahurira Foundation. Learn more about their ongoing efforts and explore ways to contribute on their website, www.judith-foundation.

Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of these vulnerable children and the communities they come from.

In pursuit of making a lasting, meaningful impact on individuals and communities in Uganda, the Ghetto Project initiated by the Judith Nahurira Foundation, is gradually coming to fruition in the Kalerwe and Nsooba areas of Kawempe Division.

Derrick Nakibinge, also known as “Champali,” stands as a testament to the positive outcomes of the Ghetto Project. Through this initiative, Nakibinge received empowerment in the form of a sharper machine, significantly enhancing his productivity. His daily output of finished products increased from 10 sandals to an impressive fifty.

Residing in the modest confines of Kalerwe’s slums, Nakibinge operates with two tailoring machines, knife cutters, and now the newly acquired sharper machine. His craftsmanship extends to creating sandals, bags, wallets, and belts, all crafted from leather.

Apparently, he is also skilling 5 other youths from the same area including a woman and he can confidently produce a catalogue of products thanks to Judith Nahurira Foundation.

“We started humbly using rudimentary tools and methods as the culture with ghetto youths, I got friends and started our an art and craft brotherhood workshop. I started inspiring my brother who lost parents and we live with them in our community,” he explains.

Nakibinge says they accessed the place to make their crafts after speaking to the market administration, the owners of the land where the Art & Craft Brotherhood home is located.

“We got this place after speaking to the market administration, we found the location not good for business because many people here are not our target in the market but we work and vend our shoes ourselves though sometimes we find ourselves on the wrong side of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) enforcement,” he notes.

During this unfortunate situation, it is when Judith Nahurira popularly known as Judith The Bosslady came in the area and intervened in Nakibinge’s situation and received support which led to the support and the situation is taking shape and now he doubles the production.

“Mummy Judith (The Bosslady) found us in a vulnerable state, many of my friends knew I needed help and they came in with a concept to buy for me a machine. The Bosslady gave us a choice to speak on what we can do; she picked and saw the need. We got the machine and we no longer use a lot of energy,” he says.

However, the Art & Craft Brotherhood home still need more support to improve the activities in the place. The Judith Nahurira foundation intervention has also seen the addition of 3 more youths.

“This show we can do more, if there is another opportunity, we need more capital because we have already established potential markets in South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Dubai. But our production can not allow us to meet the market demands,” Nakibinge adds.

Like Nakibinge, there were other beneficiaries like Beatrice Nanziri, who deals in barbecue skewers, her only problem was satisfying the ready market in Kalerwe abattoir, she received support from Judith Nahurira Foundation and improved her stock.

 

She says, life is gradually changing and hopes to upgrade to improved barbecue skewers which are the best for the service and more on demand.

“I started with a small loan which could afford to buy only two bundles, I suffered greatly with loan sharks asking huge interest rates because they were impatient with me yet the business was not returning as fast as I wanted. However, I received a reasonable capital from the Judith Nahurira foundation and the business is moving on well,” she says.

Nanziri expresses her gratitude to the Judith Nahurira Foundation, foreseeing growth in her business following this significant boost. She eagerly anticipates securing additional capital soon to meet the growing demands of her enterprise.

Similarly, Jovia Nabukalu, another beneficiary, holds a degree in cosmetology and hotel management. Nabukalu previously worked for a friend selling chips and tea in Kalerwe, but she decided to go out on her own after saving up a little money. However, she faced challenges sustaining her business due to limited funds and customers who were slow to settle their bills.

Fortunately, the intervention of the Judith Nahurira Foundation in her community has transformed Nabukalu’s life. Inspire by the newfound opportunities offered by the Judith Nahurira Foundation, she is now thinking about opening a reputable restaurant in the future.

“Many things have changed ever since I received support from the *Judith Nahurira* foundation, when I received the pop corn machine, the consumption and customers have improved though I am still challenged by those who take long to pay or those who don’t pay at all,” Nabukalu points.

However, she still challenged on issues to do with weather because of the humble location her business has to endure.

In February, more than 30 youths and women hailing from Kalerwe-Nsooba in Kawempe Division actively participated in the assessment phase as the organization screened potential beneficiaries for the Ghetto Project initiative.

The Ghetto Project seeks self-employment initiatives and invites potential beneficiaries to propose projects capable of providing sustainable opportunities for others in their community. Specifically targeting Kawempe division, one of the districts comprising Kampala, this initiative aims to uplift youths and women.

The Judith Nahurira Foundation seeks to use this initiative to improve the lives of people living in difficult circumstances, particularly young people and women, by giving them hope through long-lasting projects.

The project, as outlined by assessment officers, aims to pinpoint individuals with diverse start-ups, focusing on empowering youths and women in the community. Among those who participated in the assessment are individuals engaged in various ventures such as food vending, crafting, salon operations, shoe vending, and grocery businesses, among others

More than 30 youths and women hailing from Kalerwe-Nsooba in Kawempe Division actively participated in the assessment phase as the organization screened potential beneficiaries for the Ghetto Project initiative.

The Judith Nahurira Foundation is leading this initiative, which aims to improve the lives of people living in difficult circumstances, particularly young people and women, by giving them hope through long-lasting projects.

Renowned Ugandan musician Ssebunya Alfa, also known as Mudra, has joined forces with the Judith Nahurira Foundation to elevate the living standards of the community. Under the banner of the “Ghetto Project,” Mudra and the foundation have identified several youths and women to benefit from the initiative, which commenced in late January this year.

The project, as outlined by assessment officers, aims to pinpoint individuals with diverse start-ups, focusing on empowering youths and women in the community. Among those who participated in the assessment are individuals engaged in various ventures such as food vending, crafting, salon operations, shoe vending, and grocery businesses, among others.

“Most of them have small businesses and are knowledgeable,, but they are unstable but already operating. Others have locations, and it is something we are looking at most. They need support and capacity-building,” said Sam Kayiwa, one of the assessors.

Mukasa Annet,, a food vendor in Kalerwe,, says she wishes to improve her business in catering and attract more customers.

“If I get capital and purchase things like warmers and plates,, I can do better in catering and employ more people in this business,” she points out out.

Deerick Nakibinge, who owns a craft shoe shop,, thinks he can help many youths and train them on how to to make craft shoes,, which is a sustainable job.

“Anyone can bring a child to learn how to make shoes. This workshop is open to all. We need to rent a better place and buy more machines,, though marketing is still the biggest problem. This workshop has been established for the last 10 years and employs about 5 people now. We only do vending,” he said

Mabonga Rudroph,, commonly known as Pele, the project coordinator, explained that most of the ladies come from a busy community and can easily thrive when this project starts.

Judith Nahurira,, the founder of the Judith Nahurira Foundation,, highlights that the organization is going to invite professional people to empower them all with training in bookkeeping, financial literacy,, and business intelligence.

“We still think about fifteen to twenty beneficiaries,, but we shall see if we can add more. We will come up with ideas and share financial literacy programs to grow their businesses; we need to focus more on the youths to develop, and we facilitate all the projects in the same line,” she said.

The Ghetto Project seeks self-employment initiatives and invites potential beneficiaries to propose projects capable of providing sustainable opportunities for others in their community. Specifically targeting Kawempe division, one of the districts comprising Kampala, this initiative aims to uplift youths and women.

The area is marked by prevalent poverty, violence, early pregnancies leading to single motherhood, high rates of school dropouts, rampant drug abuse, prostitution, and widespread gambling. The project endeavors to address these challenges and empower the community through viable self-employment ventures.

One of Uganda’s top musicians, Ssebunya Alfa, aka Mudra, has started working with the Judith Nahurira Foundation to improve the living standards of the Kalerwe, Nsooba, and Kawempe Division communities.

The talented dancehall artist, also born in Kawempe, is known for his captivating music and energetic performances.

Mudra and the foundation under the “Ghetto Project” identified several youths and women to benefit from the project, which started this year in late January.

The Judith Nahurira Foundation is facilitating the ghetto project, which aims to improve the lives of people, especially young people and women who live in appalling conditions, and give them hope.

“When Mudra saw what the Judith Nahurira Foundation has done in other parts of the country, he contacted me to come to his community. To me, that is important, and I had to make sure that I come on board with a sustainable project,” says Judith Nahurira, the founder and CEO of the Judith Nahurira Foundation.

Nahurira added, “We thought about the women and the youth to improve their lives; it is just the beginning, and this project will help in self-helping their children.”

Speaking about the opportunity at a glance, Mudra commended the Judith Nahurira Foundation, and he is hopeful the founder’s objectives will change the lives of people in Kalerwe through the Ghetto Project.

“We have seen Judith helping people in many ways; she has helped so many people across the country, and I approached her to help our people. The money coming through the project has to help these people. We also need to look into those with concepts outside our concept,” he says.

Kawempe is one of the divisions making up the Kampala district and is characterized by people living in high poverty, violence, early pregnancies of young girls who are now single mothers and school dropouts, high drug abuse, prostitution, and gambling.

The people living in these areas may seem to be comfortable with the vices, but they work a lot to change their lives. This is because their society produces and grooms its people in an environment with relative values.

Children and youth grow up in an environment where people are smoking drugs, parents are drunk during the day and fighting all the time, old people speak vulgar words in public, prostitutes stand on the roadside during the day, old boys break into houses and grab other people’s things to split into the dark, and it all seems normal.

But all this is due to a generation that lacks the proper values and skills to live positively and later turns out to parent another generation. Kawempe Division was well known for habiting and generating thieves, prostitutes, gamblers, drug abuse, and all sorts of shameless acts in other parts of the city.

So, the Judith Nahurira Foundation empowering these communities with skills and values would completely improve their abilities, personalities, and mindsets, thus also positively changing the upcoming generation.

These poor communities consist of indigenous residents and people migrating from the northern and rural areas of Uganda to search for a better livelihood in Kampala.

As a means of survival, most of the residents are involved in hawking, gambling, prostitution, and theft by grabbing people’s valuable items and running away, and small businesses are put aside on the roads, like charcoal sales.

A large population of this area is living in poverty, with high HIV/AIDS levels, violence, and hopelessness, as they lack the skills and values to be productive in life.

Over 200 beneficiaries, both patients and staff, of Iganga General Hospital, Eastern Uganda, received a Christmas package and cash from the Judith Nahurira Foundation to celebrate Christmas.

Iganga General Hospital, a government hospital established in 1968 and servicing the biggest population of eastern Uganda, and seven districts—Luuka, Kaliro, Namutumba, Mayuge, Jinja, Bugiri, and Namayingo—find themselves grappling with a surge of 250 outpatients and 150 inpatients. Despite its limited staff, the facility strives to meet the healthcare needs of the community it serves

Muhamed Kiyemba, the hospital administrator, says over 150 patients and 50 staff members benefited from the generosity of the Judith Nahurira Foundation.

“This hospital started in 1968; it has only 100 beds but is overwhelmed because it receives over 250 outpatients daily and 150 inpatients. Though the government delivers drugs on two cycles, it is not enough to cater to all the people who turn up here,” he said

Kiyemba commended the Judith Nahurira Foundation for its timely interference, as the gesture will motivate his staff to work hard during the season shift.

According to Kiyemba, the hospital has a challenge with power inconsistency; he says that when the power goes off, they have a standby generator, but it is constrained due to limited funding.

“To our level, having to serve the population from seven districts, when power goes off, we need a standby generator. The generator needs 200 liters of fuel to operate, but we have limited funding for this cause,” he said.

The organization’s founder, Judith Nahurira, a businesswoman and philanthropist based in the UK and known as Boss Lady, claims that the appalling working conditions that Ugandan medical staff and patients endure inspired her to call on the government to enhance the services to make the nursing profession more appealing.

“Iganga General Hospital is not big enough to serve the entire region; we came to know about it after one of our friends did research and we decided to visit the hospital. Not many people in this hospital can access charity here,” she says. Nahurira commended the hospital’s staff for their commitment.

“They are short in staff but committed; the hospital looks good, but it is so overwhelmed,” she added.

Earlier, the foundation staff had gifted Christmas hampers to over 100 homes in Ndejje, Seguku, Mutungo, and Bongole on Entebbe Road in their campaign to give back to the community.