A spotlight on... Musana: Empowering communities through self-sustaining development

At GoodFX, our Charity in the spotlight series shines a light on smaller organisations making a profound difference in the world, often with limited resources. Today, we’re excited to introduce Musana, a charity that’s challenging the norms of traditional aid by building community-led, self-sustaining development in Uganda.

What makes Musana different?

Paul Smith, Musana’s UK Director, explains:

“Musana is the only organisation in the world that we know of, that is utilising donations to build infrastructure that is not only income-generating but profitable in its local context,”

Founded by husband-and-wife team Haril and Andrea, Musana creates community infrastructure like schools, hospitals, and empowerment centres that go beyond traditional charity models. These projects are designed to be self-sustaining and even generate revenue, which is reinvested back into the community to support the most vulnerable.

For example, in 2023, Musana's projects generated £3 million in local income, creating £400,000 in profit. These funds were used to provide over 48,000 free medical services and support scholarships for 2,000 children.

Transforming the aid model

Musana’s mission is rooted in shifting from dependence on Western aid to local empowerment. As Paul explains,

“There’s an old African proverb: ‘It takes a community to raise a child.’ Over the last 30 years, charity and aid have shifted that to ‘it takes a Western donor to raise a child in Africa.’ What we’re doing is re-establishing that community focus and giving dignity back to people.”

By providing high-quality schools, healthcare centres, and training facilities, Musana ensures that the communities themselves can drive and sustain their development. All funds raised are invested into critical infrastructure - not salaries or operational costs - allowing the projects to become entirely self-reliant.

A vision for replication

Musana’s impact so far has been remarkable, but they’re not stopping there. They’ve already built three successful community hubs in Uganda and have plans to replicate the model in seven more districts over the next seven years. This ambitious vision will see the creation of nursery and primary schools, high schools, 40-bed hospitals, empowerment centres, and additional social enterprises such as hotels and conference centres.

By 2044, these ten hubs are forecast to generate a cumulative net profit of £44 million—funds that will be directly reinvested to provide scholarships and free medical services.

Working with local communities

Musana’s approach is data-driven and community-led. Their Ugandan team—Musana employs 700 full-time local staff, making it the largest private employer in Eastern Uganda—conducts baseline studies to identify areas where their projects will have the greatest impact. Paul emphasises:

“We focus on places where good-quality education and healthcare simply don’t exist, ensuring that our services are both affordable and impactful. Once construction is complete, our local team has oversight, but the facilities are handed over to the community to run. At that point, our funding is finished, and the community takes over.”

Fundraising for the future

Musana launched in the UK in February 2024, and Paul is leading efforts to raise funds for the seven new projects. The charity is targeting foundations, high-net-worth individuals, and corporate donors who are excited by their sustainable approach.

“What we do offer is a proven model that generates profits within communities, transforming lives on a large scale.”

Musana’s current “Brick by Brick” campaign invites donors to contribute towards the completion of a high school, with £200,000 still needed to reach the target. Each brick brings the school closer to reality and ensures that children in rural Uganda have access to high-quality education.

Why Musana needs your support

At GoodFX, we believe that small charities often deliver big impact, and Musana is a perfect example. Their innovative model challenges traditional aid and shows how donations can create lasting change. But as Paul points out:

“It’s not a funding issue; it’s an output issue. There’s enough charitable giving in the world to end poverty, but it needs to be used effectively.”

Musana is proving that sustainable, scalable development is possible. By combining community empowerment with local ownership, they’re not just addressing poverty—they’re eliminating its root causes.

How you can help personally

Musana’s work relies on generous supporters who share their vision for a better future. If you’d like to contribute to their projects, visit their YouTube channel to see their monthly updates and learn how your donation can build schools, hospitals, and more.

Together, we can help Musana transform lives—brick by brick. Let’s give dignity and hope back to communities in Uganda.

If this has inspired you, share this blog on LinkedIn or Twitter to help spread the word. Let’s amplify the impact of this incredible organisation.