Sometimes the most meaningful work begins with a deeply personal moment. For me, that moment came on January 23, 2012.

At the time, I was living in Scotland when I received a call from my brother back home in Uganda.

“Rita, dad has had a heart attack. We are at the Heart Institute in Mulago Hospital.”

In that instant, my world stopped.

My father was not just a parent — he was my mentor, my friend, and a pillar of our family. Being thousands of miles away, all I could do was pray while doctors worked urgently to save his life.

Thankfully, through the quick and expert care of Dr. John Lwabi, who inserted an emergency pacemaker, my father survived the severe heart attack.

But survival was only the beginning of a new journey.

After leaving the hospital, our family discovered something many heart patients in Uganda experience: there was very little guidance or support for life after a cardiac event. My parents faced many fears and uncertainties about what the future would hold.

Then, in May 2017, our family faced another frightening moment.

My mother suddenly collapsed at home. As a trained nurse, I immediately recognized the signs of a stroke. She was rushed to hospital where doctors confirmed there was a clot in her brain.

Thanks to the dedicated care of Dr. Luzige and the medical team, my mother survived after several weeks of treatment.

These experiences profoundly changed my life.

They revealed the urgent need for greater awareness, prevention, and support systems for people affected by heart disease and stroke in Uganda.

After spending more than 15 years working in the UK’s National Health Service, I had seen firsthand how prevention and early detection can save countless lives.

Motivated by these experiences, I partnered with my co-founder Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, a longtime Rotarian and community leader, to establish the Healthy Heart Foundation.

Today, the foundation works to:

• Raise awareness about heart disease and its risk factors

• Promote early screening and prevention

• Support vulnerable patients who need life-saving treatment

• Provide education and hope to families navigating recovery

Every life we touch reminds us why this work matters.

Because behind every heart patient is a family praying for one more chance.

And through awareness, prevention, and compassion, we believe many more lives can be saved.