Universal Fund
Mildmay Uganda’s Universal Fund brings healthcare, education, food security and economic empowerment to children, young people and families living with HIV.
It is only because of your support that 10-year-old Nantume could attend school. Thank you!
Since its introduction in 2002, the Child Sponsorship Fund has supported 1,980 children and adolescents
876 boys and 1,113 girls have been offered educational support, vocational training and emotional and psychological assistance when facing difficult circumstances, crises, or traumatic events, aiming to address the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those affected, helping them cope with stress, trauma, and other challenges. This programme also includes economic empowerment of vulnerable households.
In 2017, Mildmay Uganda replaced individually allocated support for children with the Universal Fund to bring the same healthcare, education and food security benefits more equitably to more children and young people.
Due to a reduction of income for the Universal Fund since the COVID pandemic, the number of orphans and other vulnerable children and youth (OVCY) supported with formal education has reduced from 129 in 2020, to 96 in 2022, to 5 in 2023, and none supported in 2024.
However, in 2024, the available funds were able to support 25 vulnerable girls with socio-economic upskilling in haircare.
Mildmay Uganda continues to make significant contributions toward the United Nations' five-point plan for ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.
How Much is a Child's Education in Uganda?
Per year:
Primary school
Secondary school
Vocational training
£223
£287
£511
Please consider supporting the Universal Fund today. Your donation can help restore access to education, training, healthcare, and food security for some of Uganda's most at-risk children and young people.
2024 Report
Summary performance of supported Orphans and other Vulnerable Children and Youth (OVCY)
Year
Formal education
Socio-economic skills
Vocational skills
Tertiary education
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Total
129
65
96
5
0
295
0
13
30
50
25
118
0
7
7
2
0
16
0
3
3
1
0
7
Although funding for formal education has steadily declined in recent years, the number of adolescents and young people receiving socio-economic skills training increased between 2021 and 2023—before seeing a drop in 2024.
Despite this shift, the need for formal education support remains critical. It continues to provide a vital foundation for individual empowerment, self-reliance, and long-term community development.
Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Youth Strategy for 2025
The link between skills development and improved social and economic outcomes is well established, underscoring the vital role that skills play in both individual well-being and broader societal progress. Investing in skills and upskilling not only empowers individuals but also brings significant economic benefits.
A 2015 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) stated that “the key to achieving inclusive and sustainable development lies in increasing the knowledge and skills of populations.” Expanding access to skills allows a broader segment of society to contribute to the economy,” which boosts productivity while reducing reliance on redistribution. Furthermore, enhanced skills help drive sustainable economic growth by fostering “innovative capacity that allows economic advancement without simultaneously depleting environmental resources.”
The impact of support from UK donors can be seen vividly in the lives of vulnerable children supported by Mildmay Uganda. Through socio-economic skills training, these young people gain the tools they need to build a more secure and hopeful future—for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Education Support Case Studies
Providing Education support for a sustainable livelihood: Ruth Kansiime
Ruth is now living a purposeful and impactful life, thanks to the Orphans and Vulnerable Children/Youth (OVCY) Initiative supported by Mildmay Uganda, which enabled her integration into formal education. She grew up in Kasiina Village, a rural community in Kyenjojo District, western Uganda - over 190 kilometres from the capital, Kampala.
Ruth grew up with her parents and seven siblings - five girls - in a household marked by hardship. Her childhood was shaped by limited access to healthcare, dilapidated housing, and a constant struggle to make ends meet. Her father, a peasant farmer, grew food primarily for the family’s consumption, and their meagre income offered little relief. In 2002, their situation became even more challenging when 12-year-old Ruth was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and admitted to Mildmay Hospital Uganda for treatment.
Through the Orphan and Vulnerable Children/Youth Initiative, Mildmay Hospital Uganda identified and supported Ruth in pursuing her dream. Ruth was enrolled on Antiretroviral Treatment and offered supportive care and treatment upon admission.
After six months, she was discharged to her home. Through the OVCY program, Ruth was supported with school fees from Primary One until the completion of her dream of being a Nurse. “Due to our meagre household income, I had no hopes of joining school. My father could not afford the school fees. My dream of being a Nurse was shattered,” says Ruth.
Ruth is one of 1,200 girls whose lives have been transformed through the Orphans and Vulnerable Children/Youth (OVCY) Initiative led by Mildmay Hospital Uganda.
With the support of Mildmay Hospital Uganda, Ruth was identified and enrolled in primary school, eventually progressing to nursing school. Today, she is a qualified nurse, holding a certificate in Nursing.
“We have supported Ruth throughout her journey to achieve her career aspirations,” says Agnes Nakanwagi, Psychosocial Services Manager at Mildmay Hospital Uganda. “She earned her certificate in Nursing from St. Ambrose Institute of Health Sciences in Kagadi–Kibaale District in 2021. We are proud of her achievements and confident that she will bring joy and lasting change to her family and community. Ruth is one of 2,000 vulnerable children who have benefited from the Orphans and Vulnerable Children/Youth initiative led by Mildmay Hospital Uganda.”
“I have acquired interpersonal, communication, computer, and many other skills in related to the nursing profession that will help me with good client care and rapport with my patients. I am also in an HIV/AIDS club that promotes prevention services contributing to HIV/AIDS epidemic control. I participate in youth dialogues in efforts to fight HIV/AIDS in the community. I got an opportunity to volunteer at God’s Grace Health Centre 1V in Kyenjojo district to perfect my nursing skills. I will be able to give back to my community and one day I will hold someone's hand too!" says Ruth happily.
Launched in 2003, the Orphans and Vulnerable Children/Youth (OVCY) Initiative supports vulnerable and marginalised children and young people aged 6 to 24. The programme is led by dedicated social workers and trained community resource persons, who work closely with local leaders to identify and support beneficiaries in achieving sustainable livelihoods.
“I am deeply grateful to Mildmay Hospital for supporting my daughter Ruth at a time when I had lost hope of ever affording her an education,” says Ruth’s father. “Thanks to their help, she accessed quality healthcare, psychosocial support, and education. I will forever be thankful. Thank you, Mildmay Hospital.”
In 2017–2018, a total of 5,643,654 orphans and other vulnerable children and youth (OVCY) throughout Uganda were supported across six core programme areas: economic strengthening, food security and nutrition, psychosocial and basic care, child protection, and legal support.
During the same period, 952,555 Ugandan households received vital social services, including access to education.
Source: OVC Database 2018, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development
As part of its commitment to empowering communities for healthier lives, Mildmay places a strong focus on education - recognising it as a key driver of long-term transformation and opportunity.
Case Study: Catherine Nassanga
“My name is Nassanga Catherine, am 22 years old and live in Konge, Makindye, Kampala District with my impaired grandmother. I have been an orphan since 2007 as I lost my parents due to HIV/AIDS.
In 2008, I discovered that I was HIV positive and enrolled for care and treatment at Mildmay Uganda Hospital. Since then, I have been taking my drugs well with good adherence and my viral load is undetectable, but after I completed my Primary Leaving Examination Level in 2014 with 14 Aggregates; my aunt stigmatised me due to my HIV status and stopped her support.
In 2009 I joined Mildmay Uganda Choir which is a club that offers peer support services in music, dance and drama skills. I was regularly active and in 2014 I was recommended for education support from the Mildmay Uganda OVC program. In 2014 I joined Ordinary level and completed in 2018 with 50 Aggregates. Due to my performance, I was supported to acquire a certificate in guidance and counselling from the Mildmay Institute of Health sciences, which I completed in 2021 and also successfully competed for a YAPS (Young People and Adolescent Peer Supporters) position.
I am now providing others with support in mobilising and linking peers for HIV testing services; index case testing; conducting pre-test peer counselling and information giving; tracking and following up all identified HIV positive adolescents and young people and linking them to care and treatment.
I am also supporting health workers to run adolescent clinics that are conducting health education; pre- ART counselling; physically escorting Adolescent and Young People through service points; appointment tracking and monitoring; following up of lost clients; adherence support to adolescents and supporting peers to disclose to significant others.
With my earnings, I have enrolled for the Diploma in Guidance and Counselling to be a professional counsellor.
I am very grateful for the gift of life and career opportunities facilitated by my friends at Mildmay Uganda. I am happy that I will be able to support my siblings hereafter.
Thank you so much to the Mildmay family. I will forever be grateful to you for upholding my future.”
Catherine at graduation in 2014
Working as a Young People and Adolescent Peer Supporter
Catherine training her peers
Graduating as a counsellor in 2022
Socio-Economic Upskilling
Economic well-being and the ability to provide for one’s household is the foundation for behavioural change; a significant contributor to ending the HIV epidemic.
Mildmay Uganda implements the social-economic strengthening model to mitigate economic shock for the most vulnerable households that could potentially affect uptake or retention in HIV care. HIV and AIDS are known to further exacerbate pre-existing economic vulnerability by interrupting income streams, depleting assets and introducing labour constraints. In addition, poverty limits the uptake and impact of HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment services.
Mildmay Uganda equips adolescents and young people with practical livelihood skills to help build sustainable futures.
Through its apprenticeship programme, participants receive hands-on training in trades such as hair plaiting, designed to enhance their economic independence. In the most recent cohort, 25 adolescents and young people successfully completed the training. To strengthen the family-centred approach to care, Mildmay
Uganda also supports 893 individuals - 90% of whom are caregivers - through participation in Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups across various communities. These groups help families build financial resilience and promote long-term community stability.
Case Study: Tracy N Shares Her Story
Since 2020, Mildmay Uganda has equipped over 100 girls with apprenticeship skills - particularly in hair plaiting - enabling them to earn an income, gain independence, and save for the future.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics 2019/2020 report, only 12% of Ugandans save with commercial banks. A majority (51%) keep money at home, and 27% rely on Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs). Informal channels account for 57% of loans, while only 16% of adults access credit from banks.
Mildmay Uganda is committed to improving financial resilience through community-based economic empowerment. Today, 893 individuals—90% of whom are caregivers—participate in VSLA groups supported by Mildmay, using them to build small businesses and strengthen their families’ futures.
Nakyobe Tracy, 23, is a single mother from Mbarara in western Uganda.
Tracy was raised by her single mother alongside two siblings and always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. However, her aspirations were put on hold after she completed her O-level education in 2017. Despite earning 50 aggregates, she was forced to drop out of school when her family could no longer afford the fees, due to their limited income.
In February 2021, determined to support her family and help her siblings stay in school, Tracy moved to Kampala in search of work. She found a job in a local supermarket but struggled to make ends meet. “I wanted to look for money to support our household income so that my siblings could continue with school,” she says.
Influenced by peers and lacking access to information about family planning, Tracy became pregnant. It was during this challenging time that she was referred to Mildmay Uganda through a community linkage and referral system. She was enrolled in the PND-Suubi Project, which supports adolescent mothers aged 10–16 through pregnancy, delivery, and early childcare, alongside providing economic empowerment opportunities for their households.
Tracy received six months of training in hairdressing through the project and later joined a local salon as a volunteer. After an assessment, she was offered a permanent position.
“Each week, I earn UGX 100,000 (£21 approx.) and save UGX 30,000 (£6.30 approx). Since June 2024, I’ve saved UGX 650,000 (£137.00) approx. I’m focused on starting my own salon, I’m so grateful for the opportunity Mildmay gave me. The hair plaiting skills I learned are helping me earn a living and support my family.”
Hair-Plaiting Skills Training Has Made Us Responsible!
“My time at Mildmay’s Safe Space has really changed my life. I’ve learned hair-plaiting skills that I can now use to earn money—not just for myself, but to help my family too.
I’m so thankful to Mildmay Uganda for supporting me. May God bless you for everything you’re doing to help girls like me in our community.”
NG, 22
Left school at 14
“Thank God for His goodness. I’m really grateful for the love and support I’ve received from Mildmay Uganda—without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’ve come from a simple background and now I’m a skilled hairdresser.
I’ve also learned about saving money, gender roles, and other useful things that will help me in life.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me. My dream now is to open a salon in my community so I can use my skills to earn a living.”
MN, 17
Completed Primary Level Education
"Becoming a hairdresser is a dream come true for me, something I never imagined possible. Now, people in my community are coming to me for hair-plaiting, which brings me great joy. What means the most to me is being able to help my sisters with their school needs. That’s something I’m really proud of. My time at Mildmay’s Safe Space changed my life. I can now even help with our household rent and support my family in ways I couldn’t before. I am deeply grateful to Mildmay Uganda for their invaluable support and guidance. Long live Mildmay Uganda, and may God continue to bless your endeavours!"
NW, 20
Left school at 14
Past Social-Economic Upskilling Activities
A tailoring class (vocational training)
Universal Fund Financial Report
January - December 2024
Funds carried over from the previous period (at Dec 2023)
Budget - current period (Jan-Dec 2024)
Total funding available in the current period
Amount expended in the current period (Jan-Dec 2024)
Amount carried forward to the next period
£0
£0
£190
£779
- £589
Mildmay Uganda received £190 which was not enough to support the Social Economic Skilling. To complete the skilling program for the enrolled girls, £779 were borrowed from other sources. Mildmay Uganda spent 100% of the funds that were available in 2024 and incurred a debt of £779.
Mildmay Uganda currently has no funds to implement any universal fund activities in 2025.
Despite the funding challenges being experienced globally, we are very grateful for the generous support of kind donors to help us improve and save lives and help equip communities to respond effectively to HIV and other health Issues
