About us

Our Mission

To empower women, children, and youth in underserved communities through education, health, entrepreneurship, and technology programs that create lasting positive change.

Our Vision

A Uganda, where every woman, child, and youth has equal access to opportunities for growth, education, and economic empowerment, regardless of their background.

Our Values

Compassion, integrity, community partnership, sustainability, and empowerment guide everything we do as we work alongside communities to create positive change.

Ssegawa Charles

Director & Co-founder

Charles Ssegawa is a Social Work and Community Development professional, founder and director of Yamba Hearts For Uganda and Arise and Shine Junior School. A graduate of Uganda Martyrs University and Certified Child Protection Practitioner from Makerere University, he has over 10 years’ experience in community mobilization, training, and mentorship, advancing equality and sustainable community development.

Muzaki Costance

Chief Finance Officer

Costance Muzaki is a Social Work graduate from Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi and Chief Finance Officer of Yamba Hearts For Uganda. She is passionate about child education and women’s empowerment. She previously worked with African Hearts Organisation in Wakiso, supporting street children and training women in prostitution for sustainable jobs, and helps run Arise and Shine Junior School.

Kelse Blaise Koneda

Co-founder

Kelse Blaise Koneda is the co-founder of Yamba Hearts For Uganda. She played a key role in establishing the organization’s structure, contributed ideas that shaped its direction, and fundraising to achive our donation goals and impact measurement.

The Growth of Yamba Hearts Center

2016

Jan 2016-2019Laying the foundation

Brick Laying Project

Charles, our co-founder, began producing bricks by hand in 2015. He mobilized unemployed community youths, and together they laid over 70,000 bricks over four years. These bricks were later used to build all the permanent structures at the center.

June 2019-2021First Structure Construction

Construction began

Construction of the first structure at the Yamba Hearts Center began with support from, Michigan Community, friends, family, and other well-wishers who bought our craft items to fund the project.

2022

July 2021Basic Infrastructure Upgrades

Basic Infrastructure Upgrades

We installed electricity and a water tank, both donated by SOWE, to improve living standards at the center. The main building, which we completed with four bedrooms and a large gathering hall that also serves as our workshop, stands on enclosed grounds.

January 2022Arise and Shine School

Arise & Shine Was Established

During Uganda’s two-year COVID-19 school closures, many schools shut down, families lost income, and children lost learning. Yamba Hearts for Uganda responded by starting A Rise and Shine Junior School in Lwanga Village, offering children a place to learn, grow, and receive a daily meal often their most reliable and nutritious food.

2023

2023First Major Expansion

New Furniture Acquired

In 2023, we were grateful to Dr. Sandra Mini from the USA and Madam Jean Kennedy from the UK for generously donating new school furniture, including desks, to support our students’ learning environment.