December 2025 circular: CP day at Acheru, changes to board, and other news Health outreach in Oyam District On 30th October 2025 a team from Acheru travelled for a health outreach at Acimi in Oyam District with a stopover at Amuru Health Centre in Gulu District to meet a local partner pastor Francis who mobilises patients in the area. Francis is disabled and was previously assisted through Acheru to get a suitable tricycle. He brought a boy, Joshua, for assessment. Joshua suffered burns to his feet when he was only four days old. He is now 12 years old, suffering serious burns contractures which have never been treated, an all too common story. He has been referred to Acheru where suitable treatment can be arranged. The Acheru team setting up at Amuru 23 children were seen at Acimi, fewer than they'd hoped for partly due to long distances with transport and communication difficulties. The team hope more can be done to raise awareness there for future visits. Of those children seen, eight were referred for further treatment, five at Acheru and three at Gulu hospital. Pastor Francis and Joshua with Dennis, our orthopaedic officer, and Harriet Joshua's feet with burns contractures Harriet with a mother and child Dennis examing a child Joyce and our physiotherapist Timothy assessing children Reports from Rose, our social worker: Mulyakatete Esther is 15 year old from Buikwe district. There was no medical intervention before coming to Acheru. Her mother narrates that "my daughter was ok like others but when she started walking we noticed that her legs were a bit curving though it wasn't severe. We didn't give it much attention because we knew bowing legs correct as the child grows but the more she grew the more they curved. She started complaining of pain every morning she woke up. Esther For sure we didn't know what could be done but instead gave her painkillers whenever she felt much pain. She almost failed to go to school whenever we didn't take her using a bicycle, and she started hating going to school or staying around many people because they used to stare so much and asking her lots of questions which she wasn't comfortable answering. The nicknames she was given made her feel bad. Instead of her growing tall, my daughter was short for her age. We met a good samaritan who told us about Acheru. At first we got scared of what was going to be done. We shared with our neighbours and they discouraged us that she might fail to walk again. We hesitated a bit, but after meeting a second person who told us about the same place we decided to give it a try. This is the best decision we have ever taken in life. All we received at Acheru was the best. The girl who seemed not to be growing is so tall now. We are the happiest family now, she can walk a distance, all the names which were given to her are no longer valid. Thank you much Acheru. God bless you so much. Esther Byamukama Samuel, seven years old, from Nabalanga Village, came to ACHERU with severe malnutrition with cerebral palsy. Samuel comes from a family of 5 children. Mother abandoned them when he was only 1 year after realizing he had a disability. Father narrates that "when he was 6 months he fell sick with severe malaria and ever since then his life changed, the boy who had started sitting on his own became very weak. We moved to nearby hospital but nothing changed. Being a single father life became so bad with all my children. I'm the breadwinner who does everything. Samuel The truth is, I failed to stay committed to the treatment I was always given because I had to take care of the other children. I didn't give up on my child because I wished him to die as the community was saying but my hands were tied to accomplish all responsibilities on my own without help. But I thank God for ACHERU who identified us and gave us the best care. Indeed my boy was going to die. He wasn't eating well not even able to sit on his own. They gave us nutritious food and milk which brought him back to life. He is able to sit and crawl form one place to the other after good physical exercises" Samuel NADUK SARAH 17 year old from NAPAK DISTRICT, came to ACHERU with a complaint of curved foot. There was no medical intervention before coming to ACHERU. Sarah stays with both parents and she is the second born of 10 children. Her mother said: "When I gave birth to my girl both her feet were fine but as she was growing, one started curving we didn't give it much attention. She started complaining of pain after some years and the foot had severely curved. It had become serious but we had no idea what could be done. Sarah before treatment As God's plan are always fulfilled, He planned that one day a good person will come and give us the good news of ACHERU. It has been a blessing to us, we never thought that the foot could be fixed but it was done. Coming from a very far district, we thought that life was going to be a bit difficult for us. But ACHERU is a blessing, we received the best care and love from all people we met. We never felt different from the people around despite the different languages we all speak". "Sarah adds "I'm so happy that I can put on shoes like my friend. And people are not going to laugh at me like before. The nicknames I was always called are no more. I'm so happy" THANK YOU ACHERU, GOD BLESS YOU Sarah after treatment The Acheru board in Uganda has been much reduced over the last few years. Several members died, others resigned or retired, but a number of new members have been appointed who we believe have the expertise and experience to give good guidance as the work develops. We are grateful for the service they are giving, which is entirely voluntary. The chairman is Moses Kiwanuka, a rehabilitation specialist who has been on the board for six years now. Recent new members are Namusoke Jacent, the administrator at Mukono Church of Uganda hospital; Mukisa Jonathan, a lawyer; Pastor Patrick Odwori, highly experienced in child and youth advocacy; and Esther Muloki, an accountant. The remaining board members are Joyce and Harriet representing the Acheru staff. Namusoke Jacent Patrick Odwori Moses Kiwanuka Mukisa Jonathan Esther Muloki Cerebral Palsy day at Acheru. A lot of attention at Acheru is now directed to work with children with Cerebral Palsy, and the recent celebration of CP day there was another attempt to raise awareness, both of the condition and of the help we may be able to provide. Over 300 people attended, and the hope is that they'll go back to their own areas with a better understanding of what we are trying to do. CP day Napak Work continues on plans to build there, and plans should soon be submitted to the District for approval. We're also looking at costs for fencing our land, and the possibility of drilling a bore hole which might supply water for the local community as well as ourselves. The Acheru staff ready for another charity run Return to full Acheru website