Ettendo Worship Concert to raise funds for children with heart disease

KAMPALA, Uganda —

The Healthy Heart Foundation (HHF) has officially launched the Ettendo Worship Concert, a fundraising initiative aimed at supporting children born with, or affected by, heart disease in Uganda.

The concert is scheduled to take place on 27 March 2026 at Hotel Africana in Kampala, and organisers say it is intended to help bridge the financial gap faced by families who are unable to afford specialised cardiac treatment for their children.

Funds raised from the event will be used to support life-saving heart surgeries, facilitate referrals for specialised treatment abroad where required, and provide post-surgery care and rehabilitation, including medication and long-term medical follow-up.

“Every child deserves the chance to live a healthy life, yet many families in Uganda are overwhelmed by the high cost of cardiac treatment.”

Through the Ettendo Worship Concert, the foundation is calling on individuals, corporate organisations and members of the diaspora to support children in need of urgent cardiac care.

Buganda Kingdom’s role in public health

The initiative aligns with the Kingdom of Buganda’s longstanding commitment to public health and community wellbeing. Under the leadership of the Katikkiro (Prime Minister), Charles Peter Mayiga, the Kingdom has supported a range of health initiatives focused on disease prevention and access to quality healthcare, including the Tubeere Balamu health camps.

Healthy Heart Foundation has worked closely with cultural institutions and medical partners to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease. Its flagship programme, Children Mending Little Hearts, aims to increase access to paediatric heart surgery at the Uganda Heart Institute and, where necessary, through treatment partnerships abroad.

Growing burden of childhood heart disease

Medical specialists estimate that thousands of children in Uganda are born each year with congenital heart defects, yet only a small proportion are able to receive the surgery they require.

• Heart surgery costs for children with complex cardiac conditions
• International referrals for advanced treatment not available locally
• Recovery and rehabilitation, including medication and long-term monitoring

How to take part

The Healthy Heart Foundation has called on the public to support the initiative by purchasing tickets, sponsoring the event, or making direct donations.

More information is available at etendo.healthheartfoundation.org .