Uganda • East Africa Established 1997 • Kasese, Uganda
Home›About Karucan
WHO WE ARE

Rooted in communities.
Open to the world.

Karucan Foundation — known as KAFO — is a Ugandan grassroots non-governmental organisation working alongside communities and partners to create practical, inclusive and sustainable pathways to better health and opportunity. We have been working continuously in Uganda since 1997.

Our Story

Development starts with listening.

Karucan's approach is grounded in the realities of communities in Uganda. We bring together local knowledge, trusted relationships and practical innovation to respond to needs that matter.

We believe strong development partnerships are built on respect, accountability, learning and shared ownership — and that the strongest solutions come from the communities who live them every day.

Nelson Kasaija

Executive Director — Karucan Foundation

"We design programmes with the people who use them. The work is more durable when communities lead the change."

Our direction

Purpose with clarity.

Our vision and mission guide how we choose programmes, build partnerships and measure progress.

V

Vision

A Uganda where every community can access health, opportunity, knowledge and the resources needed to thrive.

M

Mission

To facilitate communities to attain good health and livelihoods through strengthened community–facility linkage frameworks.

A

Approach

Community-led, partnership-driven, evidence-informed and focused on sustainable outcomes.

Where we work

Sectors & geography.

Karucan's portfolio spans health, WASH, agriculture, education, gender, social development and research — implemented through the Rwenzori Sub-region and broader Uganda.

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Health

Primary health, TB care, maternal & child health, NCD screening, liver health and obesity prevention.

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Advocacy

Community advocacy on behalf of populations often excluded from services and decision-making.

❀

Agriculture & Rural Development

Sustainable agriculture, household enterprise and nutrition gardens that improve food security.

✎

Education, Training & Capacity Building

Training community health workers, volunteers and local partners in evidence-based practice.

♀

Gender & Human Rights

Women-led enterprise, inclusion of girls, and human-rights-based approaches to health and livelihoods.

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Research & Innovation

Implementation research, mobile-phone TB reporting tools, USSD-based digital health pathways.

♡

Social Development

Programmes that strengthen social cohesion, community resilience and household wellbeing.

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Water, Sanitation & Hygiene

Safe-water access, sanitation infrastructure and hand-washing promotion in rural parishes.

Our values

How we work.

Four values guide every decision we make — from programme design to partnership selection.

I

Integrity

We act responsibly, communicate honestly and take stewardship of resources seriously.

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Inclusion

We design for people who are often excluded from services, information and opportunity.

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Partnership

We believe lasting impact is stronger when communities and institutions work together.

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Community-led

We work with communities, not simply for them — communities define priorities and solutions.

Affiliations

Working with global coalitions.

Karucan is proud to be recognised as a partner by international health networks and coalitions working toward shared goals of equity, prevention and care.

  • Affiliate Member, World Heart Federation
  • Listed Member, World Obesity Federation Network
  • Partner, Stop TB Partnership — TB REACH Wave
  • Coalition Member, African Hepatitis B Advocacy Coalition (ABAC)
  • Community partner, Global Liver Institute — Liver Awareness Week

Want to work with Karucan?

We welcome conversations with development organisations, funders, universities, governments, technology companies and community partners.

Get in touch →