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Safe, dignified maternity care for all mothers
Amani Mamas Initiative was born from a vision to provide compassionate, safe, and dignified maternity care to some of Uganda’s most vulnerable mothers and families. What started over a decade ago as the Amani Family Centre, a fully midwife-led maternity unit, has grown into a thriving organization dedicated to maternal and child health, community support, and empowerment.
Our Story
Our journey began with a simple mission: to ensure that every mother and child, regardless of their circumstances, has access to high-quality healthcare and support. Over the years, with an unwavering support from MAMA IMARA, we have expanded our services to include antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, social support, and volunteer programs for medical and midwifery students from around the world.
At Amani Mamas Initiative, we believe in care that goes beyond medicine. We combine clinical excellence with empathy, respect, and cultural sensitivity, walking with mothers and families through every stage of pregnancy and early childhood. Our story is one of community, dedication, and the unwavering belief that every mother and child deserves a healthy and hopeful start in life.
AMANI HISTORY
Amani Family Centre was born out of an urgent need to secure sustainable funding for the critical maternal health services already being provided within the community.
Between 2016 and 2017, Diane Lockhart, a registered certified midwife and founder of Amani Family Centre, together with Courtney Kapuya, a student midwife and founder of Mama Imara, offered free maternal care to mothers in an 8 x 8.5 ft concrete shop with a dirt floor. Space was extremely limited, medical supplies were scarce, and security remained a constant concern.
Despite having no formal funding sources and relying entirely on donations from friends and family, Diane and Courtney were deeply committed to their calling to provide safe, dignified, and compassionate maternal care to women in need. They recognised that operating from a shipping container clinic and practicing what they often referred to as “slum midwifery” was not a long-term solution. Yet, even in those humble conditions, mothers were grateful for the opportunity to deliver their babies safely within their own community, supported by skilled and caring professionals.
From these modest beginnings, the vision for a stronger, more sustainable Amani Family Centre clinic began to take shape. Courteney went on to find Mama Imara, a registered Canadian Not-for-Profit that has continued to fund most of Amani's work.
Sponsors & PARTNERS
