The Community of Lukuli
The parish of Lukuli, which hosts the clinic, is located 5km from the centre of Kampala and in sight of Lake Victoria. The community includes farmers of smallholdings of land, sole traders and families who travel into Kampala for employment. The population of the clinic’s council area number 12,000 based on the last census, part of 53,000 people living within 2km of the clinic. The nearest Government health facility is over 3km from the clinic. Whilst the wealthy and more mobile people tend to choose larger clinics in the city, few private or government centres serve this poorer urban population. Lukuli-Nanganda, our village’s name, is part of the Lukuli-Konge Parish in Makindye administrative Division of Kampala.

In May 2008, Nation Television (NTV) dedicated its weekly health feature to the work of Hope Clinic. The report, by Leah Bwanika, included interviews with patients, coverage of the clinic and comment from the Director General of the Uganda Aids Commission Dr Apuuli. The report can be viewed here.[It is a 3MB Quicktime file and also works in Real Player but not Windows Media Player].

In June, Ambassador Mark Dybul, the Global Aids Coordinator will join international HIV Implementers at a conference in Kampala to review partnerships and succesful collaborations in addressing HIV/AIDS. The conference theme is partnerships and overcoming obstructions to implementation. The feature shows how local coordination helps that.

The Management Structure of the Clinic
The clinic is led by a Board drawn from its founders whose members are also on the Steering Committee of the Registered NGO, Hope Clinic Lukuli (Reg: 5914-4003). The Steering Committee of the NGO has transfered all operational decisions to the Board (of the charitable company) that operates the clinic. The committee comprises persons of the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Islamic belief to enable cross-religious participation. However, the NGO and the clinic does not limit access based on religion, ethnicity, gender or HIV or economic status. A broad range of interests and backgrounds among the management and members has been a key driver in the growth of the NGO.

Operational management with the Community
The day to day operations of the clinic are led by an Organisational Committee which includes members of the Board/Steering Committee. The role of the Organisational Committee includes management of the financial affairs of the clinic and liaison with the fund raising activities of the NGO on behalf of the clinic.

The Organisational Committee comprises a representative of the local Church of Uganda (St Stephen's, Lukuli), the employed medical staff and the Board. Its meetings are advertised at the clinic and hence members are invited to attend the meeting. Any matters to be raised by non-committee members at the meeting shall be made in advance in writing to any member of the committee who will raise it on their behalf.

NGO Participation

‘Full-time’ membership of the NGO is available to all patients of the clinic who express an interest in becoming ‘full-time’ members of the NGO. There is no membership fee, however they will be expected to provide technical, advisory or support-in-kind to the development of the NGO and clinic with no remuneration.

‘Full-time’ membership is deemed to have lapsed if the member does not attend the clinic as a customer in a six month period and has not made a donation to the clinic in excess of Shs 500,000. Board Directors retain their full membership. Financial linkage to allow involvement of supporters outside of Uganda.

All other persons who attend the clinic as customers, support its development or provide support are considered ‘participatory’ members of the NGO. This entitles them to information on its direction and goals, access to all of the services of the NGO and notice, through the clinic, of forthcoming meetings of the Organisational Committee.

It is envisaged, therefore, that all members of the community who attend or support the NGO are participatory members (by default), which places no liability on them. Those that can provide more tangible support and request it, become ‘full-time’ members.