Who we are

Rooted in Mbale, built for those left behind

Ekwash Elgon HIV Empowerment Organization is an indigenous non-profit working at the foot of Mount Elgon — committed to comprehensive care, dignity, and resilience.

Governance & leadership

A dedicated board and team

EEHEO is overseen by a committed, diverse board of volunteer directors and run day-to-day by an Executive Director with a dedicated team of staff and volunteers — each bringing their skills, experience, and compassion to every program we run.

  • Three individuals living openly with HIV on our board
  • A practicing physician, licensed pharmacist, and seven AIDS community leaders
  • Community health workers, counselors, and outreach coordinators
  • Educators, social workers, and dedicated volunteers from diverse backgrounds
11+

volunteer directors bringing lived experience and professional expertise to every decision.

EEHEO board members
Our team

The people behind our mission

Meet the dedicated individuals leading EEHEO's programs and day-to-day operations.

Emma Khaukha

Emma Khaukha

Executive Director

Kuka Morris Maiki

Kuka Morris Maiki

Clinical & Health Director

Nabukwasi Phoebe Priscila Pearl

Nabukwasi Phoebe Priscila Pearl

General Secretary & Director of Social Services

Namono Sharon

Namono Sharon

Financial & M&E Director

About EEHEO

An indigenous NGO with a holistic mandate

EEHEO is a non-profit, indigenous non-governmental organization incorporated in the City of Mbale. We are dedicated to promoting HIV/AIDS drug assistance programs and improving access to comprehensive, holistic care for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Our work emphasizes integrated service delivery, chronic care management, community strengthening, and effective linkage to care — with a focus on adolescent girls and young women, adolescents, women, children, and the elderly.

Alongside this, we prioritize WASH programs, education, research, and economic sustainability to foster sustainable community development and resilience.

Who we serve

  • Orphans and vulnerable children, including children living with HIV/AIDS, children with disabilities, and street children
  • Key and priority populations
  • Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW)
  • Widows
  • Elderly people
Our story

How we began

From a shared conviction to an organized response — the path that built EEHEO.

September 2021

EEHEO is founded

Five founding members — Emma Khaukha, Mike Morris Kuka, Fredrick Wafula, Namono Sharon, and Nabukwasi Priscilla — come together, moved by the gaps in services facing vulnerable groups across Eastern Uganda.

Incorporation

From committee to board

An organizing committee with expertise in administration, advocacy, fundraising, and medicine transitions into EEHEO's inaugural Board of Directors on incorporation.

2021 onward

Practical & emotional support

EEHEO begins providing direct support to key priority groups, vulnerable children, women, and carers across Mbale and Eastern Uganda — helping them rebuild their lives.

Today

An integrated movement

Six interconnected program areas span healthcare, education, protection, and empowerment, governed by a diverse board and powered by volunteers.

What guides us

Our values

Six commitments that hold steady whatever the work in front of us.

01

Human Rights

The dignity of every person sits at the center of our work, never as an afterthought.

02

Health Rights

Access to comprehensive, holistic care is something everyone deserves — not a privilege.

03

Gender Equality

We center adolescent girls, young women, and widows in the design of our programs.

04

Mutual Respect

We listen first. The voices of those we serve shape every decision we make.

05

Partnership

We work alongside communities, government, and partners rather than around them.

06

Voluntarism

Service delivery is powered by committed volunteers who give their time and skill freely.

Where we work

Project areas

Our programs are focused across the Bugisu region of Eastern Uganda.

Mbale CityOur home and operational base
Mbale DistrictRural and peri-urban outreach
Namisindwa DistrictCommunity health programs
Bugisu RegionRegion-wide coordination