Restoring mobility, dignity, and hope in Uganda’s rural communities.
For over a decade, IRFF UK’s Mobile Medical Team travelled deep into rural Uganda to treat painful jigger infestations, distribute shoes, and teach simple hygiene practices. Quietly and consistently, this project changed lives — one pair of feet at a time.
Together We Can Make a Difference
The Challenge: A Preventable Problem with Devastating Impact
In parts of rural Uganda, jigger infestations (tungiasis) affect some of the most vulnerable: children, the elderly, and those living in extreme poverty. Jiggers are tiny sand-fleas that burrow into the skin, often the feet, causing swelling, pain, infection, and in severe cases, disability. Many who suffer are unable to walk to school, work, or fetch water.Tragically, these infestations are sometimes misunderstood as a curse. This stigma often leads to isolation and neglect, worsening the cycle of poverty and illness.
Thousands reached through mobile clinics, education, and shoe distribution
Legacy: Communities equipped with knowledge to prevent future outbreaks
Our Mobile Medical Team
Beginning in 2009, IRFF UK launched a Mobile Medical Team (MMT) to reach communities that lacked access to basic healthcare.
The team travelled from village to village, offering treatment on-site, educating families, and providing simple but life-changing tools like shoes and disinfectants.
This hands-on, mobile approach allowed us to reach people who would otherwise remain unseen.
Turning Compassion Into Action
What We Did
Tackling the jiggers crisis required more than just awareness — it demanded a hands-on, community-led approach. Through strategic partnerships, dedicated volunteers, and targeted medical support, IRFF UK turned concern into tangible change. Below is a look at the practical steps we took on the ground to bring relief, restore dignity, and create lasting impact.
Our medical volunteers carefully removed embedded jiggers, cleaned and dressed wounds, and followed up with families to prevent reinfection.Treatment often brought instant relief — children who had been unable to walk due to pain were able to stand and move again.
Education and Awareness
We worked with families and local leaders to teach basic hygiene practices, such as regular foot washing and cleaning home environments. Equally important, we helped communities understand that jiggers are not a curse, but a preventable issue — replacing stigma with knowledge and compassion.
Providing Shoes and Protection
In many cases, a single pair of shoes can make the difference between health and constant reinfection.
We distributed hundreds of pairs of shoes, prioritising children and the elderly, to give lasting protection long after treatment.
Impact Over the Years
From 2009 to mid-2022, IRFF UK invested approximately £35,000 into this programme.
2,300+ people treated in just one documented year (2013), across 5 schools and 12 communities.
Around 250 pairs of shoes distributed in the same period, preventing reinfection and encouraging school attendance.
Countless families educated, spreading hygiene knowledge beyond the villages we visited.
While the numbers tell part of the story, the real impact lies in the faces and stories of those who regained their mobility, dignity, and sense of belonging.
Robert Mwogeza
Head of Mobile Medical Team in Uganda
Real Lives, Real Impact
Stories of Change
From Pain to Possibility: People’s Journey to Recovery
A young girl who could no longer walk to school had her feet treated, was given new shoes, and returned to class the following week.
An elderly man, previously housebound, was able to move freely again after years of living with painful infestations.
Communities began organising regular clean-ups, applying what they’d learned to keep their villages jigger-free.
Each story represents the power of simple interventions to transform lives.
Why This Project Matters — Even Now
The Jigger Removal Project officially concluded in mid-2022, but its impact lives on.
By combining practical medical care with community education, IRFF UK helped build healthier, more informed communities that continue to benefit from what they learned.
This project stands as a testament to how targeted, community-based initiatives can bring about lasting change — even with modest resources.
The Mobile Medical Team
Watch: A Glimpse Into the Field
This short video shows the Mobile Medical Team in action — travelling into villages, treating patients, and sharing hygiene education. Viewer discretion advised for medical content.
Building on a Legacy of Compassion
Looking Back — and Forward
Although this project has concluded, it remains an important part of IRFF UK’s history.
By sharing these stories, we honour the communities we worked with, the volunteers who gave their time, and the donors who made it possible.
The lessons learned — prevention through education, local empowerment, and simple, compassionate action — continue to shape how IRFF UK approaches health and community projects today.
