News & Events

The 4-bed maternity unit was completed in October 2022 and opened by the popular MP for Urambo District, known locally as Mama Sitta. It makes a great difference to expectant mothers and avoids the need for many to travel 40km to Urambo Hospital by motor bike taxi.
The generosity of the anonymous FUM donors is very much appreciated.


In Swahili the plaque reads:
"This maternity building, built with funding from FUM, was inaugurated by the Honorable Member of Parliament for Urambo Margaret Simwanza Sitta on 26-10-2022"

Since autumn 2023 the clinic and maternity unit have received a good supply of water via a solar powered pump from a borehole 2.8km away.

As well as general outpatient services the clinic provides a good range of maternity services, also Immunisation and Child Health care. HIV programmes include Testing and Counselling and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

Provision of a rain water harvesting system with a large underground tank is the target of FUM's special fundraising for 2021 - 2022.

Most of the local citizens are
farmers and pastoralists who grow maize, rice, groundnuts, tobacco and keep cows and goats.

The village is about 25 km south west of Urambo. The road is rough but phone communication is good with three mobile networks available.

After three failed attempts the successful Kiloleni borehole had to be 2.8km from the clinic. A solar powered pumping system will be needed to transfer the water to the clinic at a cost of £14,000. Two fundraising walks hope to raise this sum.

1. Sunday 10th July, Cornwall / Devon walk
The walk organiser is Julie Overnell. "From Plymouth the 70A bus will take us to the start at Tregantle Fort (Whitsand Bay, Cornwall) via Torpoint ferry.
The coastal path back is via the Cremyl passenger ferry, finishing at Plymouth Hoe".

2. Saturday 10th September, South Downs walk
The walk organiser is Isabel Heycock. "It will be a 15 mile circular walk starting near Cuckmere Haven and taking in Alfriston and Firle Beacon".

In July Mr Joseph was delighted to inform me that the College had a visit from the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Education.  He had informed him of FUM’s support to disadvantaged students.  

Second year welding students are working in local villages making window frames, doors and beds.

The College is proposing to develop a new course in plumbing and pipe fitting.

During this time the college has welcomed the construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of others.  There were delays on occasions but by the end of 2022 the work had been completed.

The College continued to recruit a high number of students, taking a variety of courses but the most popular continued to be sewing and cloth technology, electric installation, and motor vehicle mechanics.  

It is admirable that the College vehicle remains in operation though it is increasingly difficult to source spare parts.   At least, now there is the tar road that runs into Nzega, it does not have to negotiate the sometimes-hazardous dirt road which it had to use for many years.

The re-furbished welding and metalwork workshop is being put to good use since the College was successful in obtaining a tender to supply desks and chairs to secondary schools in Urambo District.  This is giving appropriate students the opportunity to continue their training and assist in useful production too.

The motorcycle was finally purchased and is being put into good use.  On occasions it is used to take sick students to hospital.  

Poor rains caused real difficulties in water supply, both for day-to-day use by all College members, but also to maintain the crops which have been planted on College ground.  Faulty piping within the College campus was identified by Lucky Mgeni and was repaired.  However, poor supply from the town remained a problem.  At times the students had to collect water from off campus.

The college has recovered well from the effects of the fire and is now back to full effectiveness under Mr Enoch's leadership.

A recent development is the production of steel furniture by metalwork students. Its sale locally provides a useful boost to college income and also gives students valuable insight into business practices. FUM helped provide the initial stock of steel.

The old motorbike supplied by FUM many years ago was beyond repair so a new motorbike has been provided.

This was to raise money for providing the clinic and new maternity unit at Kiloleni
with a reliable source of clean water.

Well over £8000 was raised, a great success. With help from other FUM funds a borehole has been successfully drilled to provide a reliable supply of much needed good quality water.

Latest news Sadly, travel restrictions due to the covid pandemic mean that our new group of student doctors have had to withdraw from their scheduled Elective Placements in Tanzania.

It was very disappointing that the elective of our 2020 student doctor volunteer Jessica Eardley had to be cancelled because of the covid pandemic in UK. Jessica instead spent the time working in her hard-pressed University hospital.

We had been delighted to announce that four UK medical students had opted to spend their electives in Tanzania for 4 weeks during during May/June 2021. Alas these will not now take place.
Rachel and Anna were to be based at Urambo Hospital supervised by our good friend Dr Swakala while Rachael and Alastair were to serve at Ndala Hospital in Nzega District with Dr Mgalega. 

We are extremely grateful to our good friend Mr Venance Gomegwa for designing and supervising the construction of better housing for the family. It has taken a great deal of his time and energy but the outcome is excellent and the family are delighted.