Bringing Hope to Uganda’s Forgotten Seniors: USSSU’s Impact in February 2024
- USSSU
- Feb 19
- 4 min read
Standing with the Forgotten, Restoring Dignity
At Universal Seniors Social Services Uganda (USSSU), we believe that every senior deserves dignity, love, and care—regardless of their circumstances. Each month, our journey takes us deep into the heart of communities, meeting elders who have been left behind, listening to their struggles, and finding ways to restore their hope.
This February 2024, our mission was clear: to uplift, heal, and stand by the seniors in Manafwa District. Through medical support, home visits, community mobilization, and partnerships, we worked to bring relief to those who need it most. Here’s how we made a difference this month.
Recognizing Our Supporters: A Heartfelt Thank You
Before we highlight our on-the-ground efforts, we want to take a moment to thank everyone who stood with us during December 2023’s medical camp, fundraising efforts, and official launch. This month, we reached out to express our gratitude—because without you, our work would not be possible.
Your support is not just about donations; it’s about restoring dignity, bringing comfort, and making life bearable for the seniors who have no one else to turn to.
Stories That Need to Be Heard: The Seniors We Met This Month
Every elder we assist has a story—a life filled with memories, struggles, and a longing for care in their final years. These are just a few of the lives we touched this month.
Mzee Paul Khisa (82 years old)
Mzee Paul was once a businessman, but his life took a painful turn 34 years ago when illness left him unable to work. He sold everything in search of treatment, but relief never came. Today, he is paralyzed, abandoned by most of his family, living in filth and extreme poverty.
When we visited, the sight was heartbreaking:
❌ He hadn’t bathed or changed clothes in weeks.
❌ His joints were stiff and covered in wounds.
❌ His house was filled with flies, bedbugs, and rats.
But hope was not lost. Thanks to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. George and Grace Sakwa (USA), we were able to:
✅ Provide a new mattress, blanket, clothes, and food.
✅ Clean his home, remove pests, and restore his dignity.
✅ Mobilize his son and relatives to care for him.
We left Mzee Paul with a new sense of hope, but he still needs ongoing medical care, food, and support.
Mzee Wandubile Edward (92 years old)
A widower and peasant farmer, Mzee Edward lives in Manafwa District with his son. Like many seniors, he was suffering in silence, with painful joints, swollen limbs, and no access to medical care.
His community saw his suffering as "just old age." But when we stepped in:
✅ USSSU’s Board Members mobilized resources for treatment and food.
✅ His son helped him bathe and clean up, improving his hygiene.
✅ He received a full medical check-up at Bubulo Health Centre IV.
The doctors confirmed his pain was due to poor nutrition and low calcium, and he now has medication and a healthier diet plan. He will also need a new walking aid to replace his old, broken crutch.
Beyond Individual Cases: Strengthening Partnerships for a Bigger Impact
We know that solving these issues requires strong partnerships, and this month, we reached out to banks and institutions to explore support through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
🤝 Centenary Bank is open to supporting us—if we align with their annual theme. We are preparing a detailed proposal to seek their contribution.
🤝 Pride Microfinance currently partners only with the government, but we are negotiating potential support for our medical camps.
Building these relationships takes time, but we remain committed to expanding our reach and securing sustainable funding.
What We Learned This Month
Through our experiences in February, a few critical lessons emerged:
🟢 Community support is key. While many families want to help their elderly relatives, poverty limits what they can do. With more awareness, we can engage local communities to step in and support their own.
🟢 The healthcare system must do better. Many elders receive no proper medical care because their conditions are dismissed as "just old age." But as we saw with Mzee Wandubile, sometimes all they need is basic treatment, better nutrition, and pain relief.
🟢 Seniors deserve respect and priority. In medical facilities, elderly patients should not have to stand in long queues. USSSU is working to ensure seniors receive prompt attention and care.
How You Can Help
We cannot do this alone. You can be the reason a senior in Uganda sleeps on a clean mattress tonight, eats a proper meal, or receives the medical care they desperately need.
💙 Donate today: Your contribution helps provide food, medicine, and hygiene essentials.💙 Volunteer with us: If you’re in Uganda, join us in making home visits and supporting medical camps.
💙 Share our mission: Help us spread the word so more people can support seniors in need.
🔗 Visit www.usssu.org to make a difference.
Every senior we help is a life restored, a smile brought back, and a soul given hope. Let’s continue standing together for Uganda’s forgotten elders.
For more information on the month of Febraury 2024 please download our monthly report below!!
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