A year ago, on Saturday, August 10, 2024, life changed forever in Kiteezi, the settlement next to our capital city’s dumpsite in Uganda. That morning, a terrible landslide struck the dumpsite, crushing livelihoods, burying dreams, and leaving hundreds of families in fear and tears. It was a moment of heartbreak that swept through the entire nation. While more than two dozen people lost their lives, hundreds of others narrowly escaped death by nothing but the grace of God. The shock still echoes in the hearts of many.

After our U.S. office put out a call for help, you—our friends and supporters—raised $44,000 in one week! In the days that followed, we knew we had to move quickly, and your support allowed us to do just that. The families who relied on the dumpsite for survival were left with nothing. In the first few weeks, we provided daily meals to more than 700 families who had lost their only source of income. We distributed mattresses, blankets, and household essentials to those in the greatest need. We supported families with temporary shelter, offering not only comfort but also dignity. Your gifts of financial support made that possible, and we continue to be grateful.

While meals and mattresses were important, we soon saw that they were not enough. These families needed to feel alive again. They needed to smile, to sing, to dance, to breathe. So we turned to the healing power of performing arts. Music and drama helped the community process pain and speak the words their mouths couldn’t form. Today, a vibrant performing arts group thrives in Kiteezi, giving people the courage to tell their stories and rebuild their confidence, one performance at a time.

And still, we knew we had to do more. We knew that true healing would not come from temporary fixes; it needed a permanent home. So we dreamed of a place. A safe place. A creative place. A place where families could begin again. That dream is now coming true. We are incredibly grateful to have received generous support to construct a family life centre, a place of restoration, learning, and joy. This dream could not have become a reality without the extraordinary generosity of a Michigan doctor and his wife. It is their compassion and belief in the people of Kiteezi that has breathed life into what was once just a vision. We will forever be grateful to them.

This centre that is being constructed is not just a building. It is a promise. A promise that the people of Kiteezi have not been forgotten. It is a place with gardens where people can sit and breathe. It has a library and computer lab for learning, a theatre hall where stories come to life, and a skilling centre to help the community train for better jobs.

There will also be a children’s play area where laughter can grow again, and counseling rooms where tears can finally be turned into healing. The centre will be a place where broken hearts can find peace and where shattered dreams can be mended with hope. And by the end of August, the doors of this centre will be open to welcome the very people who need it the most.

One year after the tragedy, we look at this centre as proof that out of ruins we can grow something beautiful. Kiteezi will not be remembered only for what was lost. It will soon be known for what was built. A place of strength. A community of courage. A new beginning.

International Samaritan is a Christ-centered organization built on Catholic Social Teaching. Our mission is to walk hand-in-hand with people who live and work in the garbage dumps of developing nations to help them break out of poverty.

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David Kafambe, Uganda Country Director

David has more than 15 years of leadership experience and a deep knowledge of East Africa. He specializes in managing and developing organizations in development and humanitarian contexts. He has degrees in Community Development, Business Administration, and an M.B.A.