About

Uganda Rural Fund (URF), founded in 2005, is a grassroots NGO working to empower orphans, underprivileged youth, and women to fight poverty in Uganda’s rural communities through access to education, medical care, and sustainable development opportunities.

Co-founder John Mary Lugemwa, OSB, was inspired by his personal experience growing up in poverty in rural Masaka. As an orphan who had dropped out of school, Fr. John Mary fought all odds to advance in education. URF is founded on a belief that a better life is possible for everyone. URF aims to help people help themselves, one village at a time, by empowering community members to implement high-impact, sustainable programs to fight poverty.

URF focuses on rural communities, where the disparity in Uganda’s education system is most evident. We believe that education, formal or informal, is the best way to fight the cycle of poverty and illiteracy plaguing rural communities.

URF is a registered 501(c)(3) in the United States. A sister organization is also registered in Uganda with a CBO number C.D.5821. We are an international and grassroots Community Based Organization that exists on non-political, non-denominational, and non-sectarian principles.

Our outreach programs include:
+ Education: vocational secondary school, community library and computer center, child sponsorship
+ + Health Care: medical clinic, medical camps, village health workers, health education, HIV testing & counseling, sponsorship of medical treatment for children with acute needs
+ Water and Sanitation: rainwater harvesting systems for schools and households, dry stands
+ Child-Headed Family Support: building homes, household supplies, food, education, health care
+ Food Security: seed loans, agriculture training
+ Leadership Institute: leadership development workshops
+ Women Empowerment: self-help projects, village banking, crafts
+ Youth Empowerment: youth group, youth leadership camps, peer counseling, sports, crafts
+ Income Projects for Sustainability: chicken project, piggery, production of herbal soap and jelly

We can be reached at info@ugandaruralfund.org or tel +1-763-291-1102

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