Our story
A promise born in Kigatto.
The Cascadia-Kigatto Community Health Clinic began with a promise made in a small village in Butambala, Uganda — a promise born from deep loss, strengthened by resilience, and carried with love across continents.
Where it all began
A Promise Born in Kigatto
At twelve years old, Umar Ndiwalana survived a preventable waterborne illness that took the lives of his mother, two brothers, and many childhood friends. Overnight, he became the caretaker of his younger sisters. He grew up watching neighbors die from illnesses that could have been prevented with basic healthcare.
Guided by a desire to heal himself and protect others, Umar studied community and adult education and worked closely with Indigenous healers. When he later moved to the United States, he discovered he had been living with untreated tuberculosis. He received vaccinations he never had access to as a child — including protection against measles, a disease that took many of his childhood friends.
This journey shaped a lifelong commitment: no child should lose a parent to a preventable illness.
The journey
From Kigatto to Oregon
From many losses grew a quiet but powerful commitment to protect other families from preventable illness. With the support of his now-wife, Umar's journey took him from Kigatto to Portland, where he learned English as a second language at PCC, studied public health at PSU, and trained as a nurse at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU).
Even through challenges and setbacks, the promise he made as a child kept him moving forward. He completed his nursing education at Oregon Health and Science University and gained clinical experience at Providence Health, the Portland VA, and Legacy Health — always carrying his community in his heart.
This journey shaped a lifelong commitment: no child should lose a parent to a preventable illness.
Education
Portland Community College — English as a Second Language
Portland State University — Public Health
OHSU School of Nursing
A Milestone Worth Celebrating
Class of 2025From Kigatto to Registered Nurse.
In June 2025, Umar Ndiwalana walked across the stage at Oregon Health & Science University — the same young boy who once had no access to basic vaccines, now a trained nurse ready to bring evidence-based care home to Kigatto
Clinical Experience
The clinic today
A Promise Made Real
The Cascadia-Kigatto Community Health Clinic is our promise made real. We are here to bring accessible, community-grown, culturally familiar care to Kigatto and the surrounding villages. Our work centers on preventive care, early diagnosis and treatment, clean water and sanitation learning, maternal and child health, mental wellness support, and sharing life-saving knowledge with families.
- No child should lose a parent to an illness that could have been prevented.
- No mother should bury a child because help was too far away.
- No family should face sickness alone.
What began in heartbreak has become a bridge — connecting neighbors, sharing wisdom, and building a future where health belongs to all of us.
Opening August 2026
Butambala Kigatto, Mpigi District, Uganda
Legal Milestone
Becoming Friends of CKCHC-Uganda, Inc.
Monica Zimmerman, LAc, coordinating on behalf of the Oregon-USA Council of Elders, and Umar, on behalf of the people of Kigatto, have begun the formal registration of Friends of CKCHC-Uganda, Inc. We have registered the organization's name, secured our Employer Identification Number (EIN), and are now filing for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the Oregon Department of Justice.
Looking Forward
A healthier Kigatto, for generations to come.
The clinic opening in Fall 2026 is a beginning, not an end. As we grow, we aim to extend our reach deeper into the community, build local leadership, and create a model of care that belongs permanently to the people of Kigatto.
Expand to Neighbouring Villages
Extend CHW coverage and mobile outreach beyond Kigatto into every village in the Butambala catchment area so no family is more than minutes from a trained health worker.
Train the Next Generation
Develop a pipeline of local nurses, clinical officers, and public health leaders who grow up knowing the clinic as their own — and carry its mission forward.
Become a Community Research Partner
Build community-based evidence that informs national health policy and contributes to the global understanding of rural primary care in East Africa.
Achieve Financial Self-Sufficiency
Grow local and diaspora giving, community partnerships, and institutional support until the clinic sustains itself — independent of any single donor or organisation.
The promise made in Kigatto is not just for today — it is for every child who will grow up here and never know what it meant to have no clinic near home.
About Us
Run by the community, for the community.
The Cascadia-Kigatto Community Health Clinic is governed by local elders, a community-elected board, and a network of trusted partners across Uganda and Oregon. Here is the team behind the mission.
Community-Driven Leadership
Run by the community, for the community.
The Cascadia-Kigatto Community Health Clinic belongs to the people it serves. The Village Council of Elders, the CKCHC Board of Directors, and the Uganda field team work together as equal partners — listening to the community, honoring local traditions, and making decisions that reflect what families in Kigatto actually need.
Village Council of Elders
The Council of Elders holds community authority and ensures the clinic's decisions honor local traditions, values, and the real needs of families in Kigatto.
CKCHC Board of Directors
The BOD provides strategic oversight, financial accountability, and bridges the clinic's global partnerships with community governance.
Uganda Field Team
Led by Kasirya Ahmed, the on-the-ground team coordinates day-to-day operations, community outreach, and preparation for the clinic's Fall 2026 opening.
Community Vetting Process
The community chooses its own care team.
When the clinic opens, every medical and administrative team member will go through a community vetting process led jointly by the Village Council of Elders, the CKCHC Board of Directors, and the broader Kigatto community. This ensures that the people providing care are known, trusted, and accountable to the neighborhood they serve.
Board of Directors
Meet the Board
The CKCHC Board of Directors provides strategic oversight, financial accountability, and bridges the clinic's global partnerships with community governance.
Mr. Kizito Ali
Chairperson
Mr. Mukuye Rashid
Vice Chairperson
Ms. Nakidde Barbra
General Secretary
Mr. Ssemusu Ismail
Treasurer
Mr. Kasozi Musa
Community Liaison Director
Ms. Mirembe Aminah
Community Mobilizer
Ms. Rehema Kaggwa
Women Representative
Uganda Field Leadership
Led by Kasirya Ahmed
On the ground in Uganda, the clinic's operations are coordinated by Kasirya Ahmed, our Ugandan Coordinator. Kasirya works directly with the community, the Council of Elders, and the CKCHC BOD to ensure that every decision reflects the priorities and values of the people the clinic serves.
Medical & Administrative Team
Serving with skill and community trust.
Every medical and administrative position at CKCHC is filled through a community vetting process. Our team is being finalized ahead of the Fall 2026 opening.
Medical Staff
- Clinical Officer
- Registered Nurse
- Midwife
- Community Health Workers (28)
Administrative Staff
- Clinic Administrator
- Records Officer
- Community Liaison
- Research Assistant
Positions are being filled through the community vetting process in partnership with the Village Council of Elders and the CKCHC Board of Directors.
Oregon-USA Council of Elders
Community HonoredOregon-USA Council of Elders
Honored by the people of Kigatto and trusted by the community, our Oregon-USA Council of Elders brings clinical expertise, public health knowledge, and deep human experience to guide the clinic's growth — friends who have earned the community's trust and carry its vision alongside us.
We know Umar prefers to call them an Advisory Board, but we choose to call them a Council of Elders — not because of their age, but because of what they have done for us. These are not strangers. They are people who have supported the son of the village for fifteen years, and who now continue to help improve our health, prevent disease, and save lives. We call them Elders because that is what they have earned.
Dr. Ashley Roach, Ph.D., RN, CNE
Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing, OHSU School of Nursing · VANAP Faculty, VA Portland Health Care System
As Umar's nursing faculty mentor at OHSU, Dr. Roach guided the clinical education that shaped the CHW Training Manual and continues to advise on evidence-based nursing practice for the clinic's care model.
Kyrie Thompson Kellett
Founder & Principal, Mason Bee Interpretive Planning · Portland, Oregon
A community engagement and interpretive planning expert, Kyrie brings strategic communications skills that help CKCHC tell its story and build lasting partnerships with donors and the public.
Monica Zimmerman, LAc
Licensed Acupuncturist
An integrative health practitioner who has worked with Umar for over a decade, Monica brings a holistic care philosophy to the clinic and contributed directly to its founding through generous support.
Charis Anne Baz
Project Manager · Innovation & Improvement Consultant · Advocate for Safety-Net Populations
With deep experience improving systems for underserved communities, Charis advises on program design and outreach strategy so no family falls outside CKCHC's reach.
Laura Stanley, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
A licensed counselor who has walked alongside Umar and his family through the years of building this clinic, Laura brings mental health expertise and personal commitment to the community's long-term wellbeing.
Scott Hassler
Senior Director of Foundation Relations & Corporate Philanthropy, UCLA · Ph.D. Geological Sciences, UC Santa Barbara
A longtime friend and supporter of Umar, Scott brings nearly 30 years of experience in philanthropy, higher education, and scientific research to help guide CKCHC's growth and sustainability.
Merm Rosenbaum
Legal Advocate
A legal advocate who ensures CKCHC's governance and community agreements are grounded in fairness, protecting the rights and dignity of every person the clinic serves.
Volunteer Opportunity
We are looking for volunteers in Oregon.
As we prepare for the Fall 2026 opening, we are actively seeking volunteers based in Oregon — nurses, public health professionals, educators, and community advocates — who want to support training, outreach, and the clinic's launch. If you are in Oregon and want to make a difference, we would love to hear from you.
Apply to Volunteer