Chairman’s Report 2025
Since the last report in Oct 2024, UCIF has run or supported seven surgical camps, with futher support provided to the fistula units working in Sierra Leone and in Madagascar, leading to 256 operations undertaken.
In Uganda, our senior colleagues Dr Asiimwe and Prof Baragaine continue to undertake much of the surgery. The next tier of senior trainees, Dr Fiston, Dr Tinka, Dr Tino and Dr Paul Muwanguzi continue to develop their skills, attending various camps during the year. Dr Esther joined the team in Kyangwali, and Dr Leni Okwoye from Mozambique came to Uganda for 2 weeks in October 2025 to receive basic fistula training and an understanding of how to run a camp.
Dr Collie and Dr Darlow have visited Sierra Leone, and Madagascar to support work there, including cover for absence, and Dr Collie has also spent 2 weeks with Dr Paolo in Angola doing camps in Luanda. Dr Asiimwe was sponsored to attend a huge surgical camp in Angola in May also, where 150 women were treated by 5 surgeons over 2 weeks. (These numbers are not included in our totals.)
Nurse training programs have been run by Ishbel Campbell in Angola and by her Ugandan team in Kamuli, Kyangwali, Tororo and Mbale and Arua in Uganda. In total 31 nurses received training in fistula nursing care.
The second edition of the textbook ‘Nursing Care for Women with Childbirth Injuries’ has just been completed and we are awaiting printed copies by FIGO. It has also been translated in Portuguese and will be available soon in print. The French version is in the pipeline to reach a larger audience.
Ishbel is also working with Stephen Katumo from Gynocare, Eldoret in Kenya to produce a 4 part online nursing series on fistula nursing care in collaboration with Fistula Foundation.
Christine Wood is planning to continue her clinical training, implementing the RCOG OASI (obstetric anal sphincter injury) teaching package. She also plans to introduce the use of scissors for episiotomy rather than razor blades.
Month by Month activity:
November 2024 Sierra Leone
Dr Collie and Dr Darlow travelled to Sierra Leone to work with Dr Awol and the obstetric team at the Aberdeen fistula centre. They contributed to 18 cases.
November 2024 Torora, Uganda
UCIF sponsored 2 local surgeons (Dr Justus Baragaine and Dr Fiston) in running a camp.
January 2025 Kitovu
UCIF again sponsored 30 patients at this camp, which was attended by Dr Ian Asiimwe, Dr Fiston and Dr Michael Breen from Madagascar and the visiting American surgeon Dr Larry.
February 2024 Kyangwali
Dr Asiimwe, Dr Darlow, Dr Tinka and Dr Esther spent a week in Kyangwali, successfully treating 21 women, including 8 with VVF. Christine Wood (senior Midwife tutor) and Cara Wood (midwife) came to assist in the labour ward and to run further training on the prevention of childbirth injury.
February 2025
Dr Collie spent one week in Luanda with Dr Paolo, where 40 patients were treated, all with complex vvf. Outcomes were excellent.
May 2025
Dr Collie returned to Madagascar for 2 weeks, Dr Darlow joining for one week with 40 cases undertaken, all with excellent outcomes. This was to cover Dr Breen while he attended the large Angolan camp along with Dr Asiimwe and Dr Paolo.
June 2025 Kamuli
Prof Baragaine, Dr Asiimwe and Dr Tinka did a camp of 31 patients including 8 vvf in Kamuli.
August 2025
Ishbel Campbell visited Vangalula house in Luanda, Angola to run a nurse training program for 12 nurses.
Oct 25 Kyangwali, Kamuli.
Dr Darlow, Dr Asiimwe, Dr Fiston, Dr Esther and Dr Leni Okwoye from Mozambique travelled to Kyangwali for a successful camp of 25 patients of which 9 were vvf. Christine Wood came to assist in the labour ward and to run further training on the prevention of childbirth injury, particularly perineal tears which are a largely unaddressed issue in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
At the same time, Dr Collie and Ishbel Campbell spent a week in Angola with Dr Paolo treating 38 patients, some very complex. The following week they met up with Dr Asiimwe, Dr Okwoye, Dr Muwangozi and Dr Tino in Kamuli for another camp of 31 patients. Dr Cristina Frattini from the UK also attended to see perineal tear surgery.
Summary:
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Year to oct 25: 256 cases undertaken and more supported.
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5 advanced trainee surgeons supported to attend camps, trained in fistula surgery (Dr Tino, Dr Tinka, Dr Fiston, Dr Esther, Dr. Muwanguzi, Dr Owoye)
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31 nurses trained at 7 camps
PLUS:
Congratulations to Dr Collie on being awarded a Distinguished Service medal from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to recognise this important fistula work.
Future plans:
It is hoped that UCIF will again fund 5 camps in Uganda in the next financial year. Ugandan surgeons will be the primary operators running each camp, with the UK team planning to attend 3 camps to lend support and help with teaching.
Dr Collie is hoping to return Angola for 10 days of operating in Feb 2026, again in September 2026, and to go to Madagascar to cover Dr Breen’s leave in May.
Dr Darlow is planning a sabbatical January to March 2026, potentially involving more fistula work alongside low resource setting obstetrics.
Christine Wood will join Dr Darlow at Kyangwali refugee camp hospital to continue with her hands-on midwifery training.
Ishbel Campbell is planning to provide nurse training in 2 new areas in Angola (Lubango and Cuito) and to consolidate in Luanda and in Uganda.
We expect to spend more time in Angola and Madagascar over the coming years as the numbers of cases of fistula in Uganda continue to decrease and the team of surgeons there grows. In the Kamuli area in particular, we note the reduction in fistula cases in the area served by UVP. It may be that we need to concentrate on different geographical areas, not involving UVP.
We will continue to support the Kamuli and Ugandan team however, with funding for 5 camps planned for next year.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Charity Name|No (if|any)|
|Uganda Childbirth Injury Fund|1099135.00|
|Receipts and payments accounts|CC16a|
|For the period|Period start date|Period end date|
|To|
|SEE|from|04/09/2024|03/09/2025|
|Section A Receipts and payments|
|Unrestricted|Endowment|
|Restricted funds|Total funds|Last year|
|funds|funds|
|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|
|A1 Receipts|
|Donations|32,302|9,474|-|41,777|32,945|
|Fund Raising|-|- -|-|-|
|Fistula Foundation|27,854|-|-|27,854|9,225|
|Tolkein Trust|28,000|-|-|28,000|28,000|
|SJP Charitable foundation|5,000|-|-|5,000|-|
|Burdett Trust|-|7,170|-|7,170|8,870|
|for Andrew Browning|-|-|-|-|-|
|Gift Aid Tax refund|4,802|-|-|4,802|3,695|
|Sub total|97,959|16,644|-|114,603|82,735|
|A2 Asset and investment sales,|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|etc.|
|Total receipts|97,959|16,644|-|114,603|82,735|
|eee|
|A3 Payments|
|-|-|
|Transport, visas & accommodation|13,815|13,815|12,536|
|Medical supplies/equipment|21|-|-|21|2,400|
|Publications|-|-|-|5,500|
|Website charges|144|-|-|144|197|
|-|-|
|Hospital costs|36,577|36,577|47,287|
|Bank & Just Giving charges|455|-|-|455|261|
|-|-|
|Ugandan Restricted Staff Payments|16,332|16,332|13,460|
|URICT|-|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|
|Ugandan Staff payments|9,093|9,093|9,855|
|-|-|-|
|Ugandan Surgeon payments|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|Sponsorsip costs|
|Misc. Inc post & stationery|-|-|-|-|263|
|Donations to patients|-|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|60,104|16,332|-|76,436|91,759|
|A4 Asset and investment|
|purchases, etc.|-|-|-|-|-|
|Total payments|60,104|16,332|-|76,436|91,759|
|Net of receipts/(payments)|37,854|313|- 38,167|(9,024)|
|A5 Transfers between funds|-|- -|-|-|
|A6 Cash funds last year end|65,062|2,077|-|67,139|76,163|
|Cash funds this year end|102,916|2,390|- 105,306|67,139|
|——|
|1|11/02/2026|
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11/02/2026
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities |
(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Bank Balance Less chqs/tfrs not cashed plus donations not cleared Total cash funds Details Details Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 102,916 2,390 - - - - 102,916 2,390 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| OK | |||
| Restricted funds to nearest £ |
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| Cost (optional) | |||
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| Cost (optional) | |||
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| - | |||
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| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval | |||
11/02/2026
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2
Independent examinerfs report on the •c¢ounts S•ctlon A Ind•pendent Examlnor'• Report R•port to tho trut••l m•mbor8 of UgBnda Childbirth Injury FurKI On •¢¢ounts for the yèar •nded 3 September 2025 Ch•rity no Ilf •ny} 1099135 S•t out on p•ge• R••p•¢tlv rn•pon8lbllltl•8 of The caritys trustees are responsible for the preparation of Ihe arrunts. The tharity8 Inmtees ¥nd ex¥miner trustees (mkjer Ihat an aart is not required for this year under seclion 144 of Ihe Charibes Act 2011 {Iho Charit8 Adl And that an indepeThJent examinatm is needed. It is my rèsponsitrx.lty lo.. ex8mine the account5 under section 145 of the Chaisbes Acl. lo folltrw the prLedures laid in the gener81 Directions given by tho ChaTty Commission (under seLon 14515llbl ol the Charities Act. and to state wheltw parfiDJlar matters have come to my 8tt8nlion. 8••1• of Ind•p•nd•nt My •xomtnplkn was c4rrO8d tn accordance gewal Oiredhins gNen by the Charlty •xamirwff• stt•m•nt Commission. ey2mln8n irm18& a r8vièw of the accounling re(ords kept by charity 8nd a (paris0n ofthe accounts p¥esented with those records. It 81$0 indudes conshleration of any unusual Items or disdosurès in the accounts. and seeking expl8nation$ from Ihe tnJslee5 nrnIng any such matters. The prwedure5 undertaken do not provide •ll the ewdence that would t requi in an audit, 8nd wnsequently no opinion is gwen as to wth&ther acccwnts present a'tru& and f8irf VI and the ieport is limited to those matters set in the statement Independent examinef• In On8(am)n th my examinati. no m8ttef has lo my attention {otherthan that ¥t•t•m•nt dlsclosed b•by•4'1 1. gives me reasonth USe lo tdieve Ihal in. any material respect. the uirements.. to keep accounting rerdS in acu1rdar wth section 130 ofth¢ Ch8ritio$ A¢l,' and to Frywe X4)unts whth a¢o)rd th Ihe accotij records and comply with the aczoJnting ofthe Chafilies Act 2. to Ithich, in my cpinitin, #Itent• shcwjld be in order to enable a proper undérnt8Thllng ofthe attount8 to b• re¥¢hed. . Plg8se delele the mdS ti7 the brnckets i1ttsY not apply. Slgn•d." Date: 14111r25 m•: Gay Tal1 Relevant profelonl quallficallonl•l or boty Ilf •nyl- Addrnm: Fold HI?e Kentrne IER March 2012