The Founders Story

From Research to Resolve

The story of the Bulamu Bukondhe Foundation isn’t just about bricks and licenses; it’s a story etched deep within me — one born from the raw pain and quiet resilience of a seemingly helpless mother-to-be in rural Uganda.

At the time, I was working as an ethnographic researcher, drawn to the stories of underserved communities during my fieldwork in rural Busoga. This interest became a calling as I pursued my Master’s in Culture and Environment in Africa at the University of Cologne, where I focused my thesis on the disappearance of medicinal plants.

Then came 2013 — the year of my thesis data collection. What was supposed to be an academic exercise turned intensely personal. I met an expectant mother seeking antenatal care, not in a hospital, but in the modest mud-and-wattle home of a traditional birth attendant in Nabikoote village. The air was filled with the scent of herbs — and the silent anxiety of a woman who felt abandoned by the healthcare system.

Her story — marked by medicine stockouts, endless queues, and the cold indifference of overstretched staff — struck me like a physical blow. This wasn’t just research anymore; it was a human cry for help. The plain reality of her vulnerability and her desperate search for care within a broken system ignited something in me — a deep call to action. I felt compelled to turn academic insight into tangible change.

BBF wasn’t conceived in a boardroom. It was born in my quiet reflections, shaped by the sorrow of that ‘shipwrecked’ mother. The idea matured during my studies at the University of Cologne, with generous support from Go-Aide, where I was a scholarship holder from 2013 to 2016. We shared countless conversations on how to develop a project that could bring lasting change. I am truly grateful to Go-Aide for walking alongside me in those early stages.

In May 2017, BBF was officially launched in Jinja — my regional town — as a company limited by guarantee. In April 2021, it was registered as a non-profit indigenous non-governmental organization.

Initially, my vision was to build a school with an attached clinic — a space for both education and healthcare. But the urgency of the healthcare crisis in the community redirected our focus. Thus, the Lamu Medical Centre for Reconstructive and Global Surgery (LMCRGS) was born — a real and lasting response to an overwhelming need, inspired by listening closely to the people around me.

Today, Lamu is more than a facility — it is a place where new lives begin, where mothers receive holistic prenatal care, where hernias are repaired, and where specialized surgeries — especially plastic and reconstructive procedures — restore dignity and transform lives. Every successful operation, every newborn’s cry, is a living testimony to our compassion and unwavering commitment to healing. This is the beating heart of BBF.

The story of BBF is a testament to the power of empathy. It reminds us that even the most daunting problems can be tackled when we respond with genuine care and action. What began as a student’s research, shaped by a mother’s pain, has grown into a movement of hope and healing.

In summary, what started as wishful thinking unfolded into a clear aspiration, which evolved into deliberate action — and finally, into real results. This journey gave birth to the long-awaited, vibrant Lamu Medical Centre — now fully operational and transforming lives every day.