Family Appeals for Shs10m to Save Toddler With Heart Condition

What the report says

A family in Dokolo District, Uganda, is asking for public support to raise Shs10 million for the heart surgery of a toddler diagnosed with a heart condition, according to Dokolo Post. The child, Fortunate Akello, is described as one year and eight months old, and the operation is said to be scheduled for September 19, 2026.

The appeal was made by Olwal Francis, who lives in Acede Village in Akolodong Parish, Amwoma Sub-county, Dokolo North. He said the family needs the money to cover medical expenses and give the child a chance at a healthy life. He also said some individuals have already contributed and that fundraising forms are circulating in the community.

Dokolo Post reported that the child’s father, Justine Odongo, is currently in Aboke, Kole District, while the family continues to mobilize funds. Olwal urged individuals, organizations and other well-wishers to contribute, saying the family cannot meet the full cost alone. The article included several mobile money contact numbers for donations.

More broadly, medical fundraising appeals are common in Uganda when families face expensive specialist treatment that is difficult to cover through household income alone. In this case, the reported effort highlights both the financial burden of pediatric heart surgery and the role of community support in helping families access care.