Darlington man helps build health centre in rural Uganda

Damian Wynne first became involved in the project after meeting Fr Ernest, a Kenyan Montfortian missionary, while volunteering in Malawi in 2015 and 2016.

Fr Ernest told him about the basic health facility he was running in Kabuyanda, Uganda – a single room with four beds, no window glass and crumbling walls.

Damian, of Darlington, initially sent a few hundred pounds to help improve the building, but asked Fr to draw up plans for a centre that could make a lasting difference. Those plans became the foundation of Kabuyanda Health, a charity Damian went on to establish with three trustees.

Ugandan health clinic (Image: Damian Wynne)

After visiting Uganda to oversee early construction work, Damian helped steer the project through fundraising, planning and delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The health centre officially opened in November 2021, providing 45 beds across three wards, along with a treatment room, pharmacy, laboratory and sanitation facilities.

The £125,000 build cost was raised entirely through donations and small fundraising events hosted throughout Darlington and Newcastle.

Ugandan health clinic (Image: Damian Wynne)

Since the centre opened, Damian has continued to play a hands-on role in its development.

During a visit in December 2024, he worked with staff to identify ways of maximising the facility’s impact without expanding the building further.

As a result, Kabuyanda Health agreed to fund a paediatrician for 2025 and 2026, cover pharmacy costs for children and the elderly, and support treatment for women suffering from urinary tract infections.

Ugandan health clinic (Image: Damian Wynne)

The charity has also supplied vital medical equipment, including blood testing machines, computers, vaccine refrigeration, an ultrasound system and an incinerator for clinical waste.

This year, further funding of around £20,000 is being sent to Uganda to install solar power and upgrade ultrasound technology.

Ugandan health clinic (Image: Damian Wynne)

Damian said the changes made since the project began have been dramatic.

“What started as a one-room shack has become a clean, well-organised health centre delivering real improvements in health outcomes,” he said.

Kabuyanda Health operates with no paid staff or overheads, with all funds raised going directly to healthcare provision.

Damian is now appealing for long-term support to help cover essential running costs of around £12,000 a year, including the ongoing employment of a paediatrician and vital pharmacy supplies.

He added: “What might seem like a small amount in the UK can be completely transformational for families in Kabuyanda.”

To get involved with Kabuyanda Health’s fundraising, contact kabuyanda@btinternet.com to speak to Damian Wynne, Tony Brockley, John McGovern or Aidan Lavender.