A bitter and long-running dispute over property belonging to Christian Family Helpers Limited, a charitable organisation that has served vulnerable children for decades, has raised concerns about the future of institutions established to support disadvantaged children in Uganda.
For years, Christian Family Helpers Limited, based in Muyenga, Kampala, stood as a beacon of hope for children affected by poverty, HIV/AIDS, conflict, and other social challenges. Through education, shelter, spiritual guidance, and social support, the organisation transformed the lives of countless vulnerable children across the country.
Founded in 1985 by the late Rev. Dr. Wamala Atwooki together with five other directors, Christian Family Helpers Limited was registered as a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure commonly used by charitable organisations. Rev. Dr. Wamala Atwooki was married to the late Hellen Darlia Wamala Nanfuka, and the couple had one daughter, the late Vivienne Pearl Wamala.
Rev. Dr. Wamala Atwooki passed away in 1998. Their daughter died in December 2010, while Hellen Darlia Wamala Nanfuka passed away in July 2016.
Today, however, the future of the organisation and its assets has become the subject of a legal battle that has dragged on for nearly a decade.
Properties at the Centre of the Dispute
At the heart of the conflict are several properties registered under Christian Family Helpers Limited, including St. Barnabas Primary School in Muyenga, Kampala Evangelical Free Church, Canaan Children’s Home in Kisugu, and a vacant piece of land located near Kampala International Hospital (IHK).
Directors of the organisation maintain that these properties were legally registered under the charity during the founders’ lifetime and were intended to remain dedicated to serving vulnerable children and disadvantaged communities long after the founders’ deaths.
According to the directors, the properties form part of the organisation’s charitable mission and were never intended to become personal family assets.
Court Battle Since 2016
The dispute reportedly intensified following the death of Hellen Darlia Wamala Nanfuka in 2016.
Court records indicate that in September 2016, relatives of the late Hellen Darlia Wamala Nanfuka, including Kalule Henry Lucky, Lwanga Charles, Lilian Nanfuka Kagimu, and Mukiibi Henry David, filed a case in the High Court Family Division against Christian Family Helpers Limited and several of its directors.
The matter was registered as HCCS No. 573 of 2016: Kalule Henry Lucky and Others versus Ignatius Miwanda and Others.
On October 22, 2020, a judgment was delivered by Justice David Matovu. According to directors familiar with the proceedings, the court directed the Administrator General to convene meetings involving both parties and investigate properties in which the late Hellen Darlia Wamala Nanfuka may have had an interest as part of her estate.
The legal proceedings remain a source of contention among the parties involved.
Allegations of Attempted Takeover
One of the organisation’s directors, Ignatius Miwanda, alleges that individuals connected to the late Mrs Hellen Darlia Wamala Nanfuka family are attempting to take control of the organisation’s assets and remove the charity from properties it has occupied and managed for many years.
Miwanda specifically names Kalule Henry Lucky, Lwanga Charles, and Lilian Nanfuka Kagimu, who he says is acting as successor to the late Mrs. Wamala.
According to Miwanda, the founders’ vision was to establish permanent institutions dedicated to helping vulnerable children, and any attempt to transfer the properties away from the organisation would undermine that mission.
“The vision of Rev. Dr. Wamala and Hellen Darlia Wamala Nanfuka was to create lasting support systems for disadvantaged children. We believe that vision must be protected,” Miwanda said.
The allegations made by Miwanda could not be independently verified. Efforts to obtain responses from the individuals named in the dispute were unsuccessful by press time.
Claims of Intimidation
Some directors claim they have faced threats and intimidation for resisting what they describe as attempts to take over the organisation’s assets.
Several individuals associated with the organisation, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that they have been subjected to pressure and threats because of their involvement in defending the charity’s interests.
These claims have not been independently verified, and no formal findings have been made by the courts regarding the allegations.
Concerns for Vulnerable Children
Beyond the legal arguments, many community members and former beneficiaries fear that the prolonged dispute could negatively affect children who rely on the organisation’s services.
For decades, Christian Family Helpers Limited has provided education, shelter, counselling, and spiritual support to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, including orphans and children affected by conflict and disease.
Former beneficiaries describe the organisation as a lifeline that gave them opportunities they would otherwise never have received.
Community leaders say uncertainty surrounding the ownership and management of the properties threatens the stability of institutions that have served vulnerable children for generations.
Particular concern surrounds St. Barnabas Primary School in Muyenga and Canaan Children’s Home in Kisugu, both of which have played significant roles in supporting disadvantaged children.
Broader Questions About Charitable Assets
Legal experts note that organisations registered as companies limited by guarantee are generally expected to use their assets exclusively for charitable purposes rather than personal inheritance.
The dispute has therefore raised broader questions about governance, succession planning, and the protection of charitable assets after the death of founders.
Observers argue that many charitable organisations in Uganda face similar challenges when founders pass away and competing interests emerge over institutional assets.
Calls for Intervention
Directors of Christian Family Helpers Limited are now calling on government agencies, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and human rights bodies to intervene and help protect what they describe as an important institution serving vulnerable children.
They argue that preserving the organisation’s assets is critical to safeguarding the founders’ legacy and ensuring that future generations of vulnerable children continue to receive support.
As the legal battle continues, uncertainty remains over the future of Christian Family Helpers Limited and the institutions it operates.
For now, the dispute remains before the courts, where the competing claims will ultimately be determined. Until then, questions persist about the future of a charity that many regard as a pillar of hope for some of Uganda’s most vulnerable children.
The allegations contained in this report remain subject to judicial determination. The individuals named in connection with the dispute had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.