Kumi wasn’t chosen from a map, it was chosen through lived experience.

When Elspeth Robinson MBE, Founder, Chairwoman & Fundraiser, first arrived in 2002, she encountered a community facing profound and often overlooked challenges. What began as a volunteering opportunity following a long career in physiotherapy quickly became something far more significant. Conditions were extremely difficult, with limited infrastructure, basic resources, and a healthcare system under immense strain—but it was clear from the outset that this was a place where meaningful impact could be made.

Uganda’s population is growing rapidly, with nearly 80% under the age of 30, placing increasing pressure on already stretched healthcare and support systems. While life expectancy is improving, many still face limited access to care—particularly in rural regions like Kumi, where maternal health risks remain high and communicable diseases are widespread.

What stood out most was the gap beyond hospital care. For families living in remote areas, particularly those caring for children with disabilities or facing malnutrition, support was almost non-existent. Over time, it became clear that real impact meant going further—reaching people in their homes, understanding their realities, and building sustainable, community-led support.

What started as one person’s commitment has grown into Kumi Community Foundation, a registered charity built on the belief of helping others to help themselves—growing steadily over time, just as strong foundations should.

Kumi became the focus because the need was urgent, the gap in provision was significant, and the opportunity to create lasting change was real..

And more than two decades later, that commitment hasn’t changed.