Quarterly Update - Q1, 2026 Recap

Apr 9

Letter from the CEO

This February, something we have been building toward for the last year happened: Pallisa opened. Community #8 is now home to an AsOne Nursery & Primary School and a Healing Grace Medical Center— we couldn’t be more excited to walk alongside families in AsOne’s newest community in Uganda.

This first quarter has also been marked by our newest internal initiative, AsOne Labs, our own leadership development track for key and emerging leaders in the organization. Investing in leaders is increasingly where I believe our deepest work happens. This is our commitment to living out our motto of: Ugandans empowering Ugandans.

That framing has shaped how we think about leadership development at AsOne. We are aware of the pace of change and growth we are experiencing and know that our most important investment we can make is in building the capacity of the leaders that will drive change within their communities.

We believe deeply in developing each person for our mission and beyond. As it says in the Redemptive Nonprofit Playbook, “we believe the communities we serve deserve not just competency but excellence; not just the good but the best.”

Thank you for making all of this possible as we push toward ten communities by 2027.

We continue to believe the best is yet to come.

Andrew DeVaney

Founder + CEO

AsOne Ministries Uganda

What and How We’re Learning

1) Launching AsOne Labs - Leadership Development

In February, AsOne launched our 2026 leadership development program, AsOne Labs, with a retreat attended by 66 participants from nine communities (even our new location under construction). Feedback from the retreat was overwhelmingly positive, with satisfaction scores averaging 4.5 out of 5, and the lessons learned are being applied throughout the year to strengthen leadership and management skills across all communities.

The program will include a series of 11 sessions over 2026, focused on developing emerging leaders, supporting community directors, and equipping administrative staff. Each session is carefully planned to ensure participants grow in leadership skills and are empowered to create lasting impact in their communities.

2) Pallisa Baseline Survey

The Pallisa Baseline Survey gathered responses from 412 community members and highlighted key challenges in the district. While access to education (72%) and health services (67%) is relatively strong, over half of the participants rated the quality of these services at 2.2/5 or lower (poor & very poor).

Agriculture extension services reach just 46% of households surveyed, and employment opportunities are the most limited, with only 27% reporting access. These findings helped guide our launch into Pallisa District and reinforce our Theory of Change.

Updates

1) Exam Results

This year, AsOne students delivered strong results in exams across both primary and secondary levels. In the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), 100% of students earned Division 1 or 2, with no failures—well above district averages, where fewer than half of students reach those benchmarks. These outcomes are opening real pathways into secondary school for AsOne students.

At the Senior Four level for the UCE exam, both AsOne High School and Crater High School achieved a 100% UCE pass rate, meaning every student can continue their education. At AsOne High School, students delivered especially strong results, ranking first in Bugiri District. Your investment to AsOne is not only helping students stay in school—it’s equipping them to excel and pursue the next step in their education.

2) Partnership with era92 Elevate Hub

Through our partnership with era92, we’ve launched an Elevate Hub in Namayemba—a community-based space where practical digital skills are taught with purpose. Young people and teachers are gaining hands-on training in computer literacy, graphic design, and web development—skills that open real pathways to employment and entrepreneurship. This is more than training; it’s about equipping people to build income, create opportunity, and contribute to their community. By combining AsOne’s community reach with era92’s proven training model, we’re building sustainable opportunities that can grow and multiply over time.

3) Welcome to the Programs Team

Sarah Damour

We are excited to welcome Sarah Damour as the new Programs Manager for AsOne Ministries. Originally from Indiana, Sarah spent much of her childhood in Evergreen, Colorado. She graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a B.S. in Marketing and brings more than 20 years of experience working with faith-based nonprofits, where she has supported organizational strategy, systems, and collaboration.

Through her work with Hope Haven Rwanda, Sarah traveled frequently to East Africa and developed meaningful cross-cultural relationships with the local ministry team.

Sarah is honored to join a team committed to addressing spiritual, relational, and economic poverty—one community at a time. She lives in Englewood, Colorado and enjoys taking advantage of all that the mountains have to offer. Sarah loves spending time with her three grown children whenever she can and is embracing a joyful new season of grandparenting.

Sarah Damour

Programs Manager

Irys Ne'win Kanyomozi

We’re also excited to welcome Irys Ne’win Kanyomozi, our Programs and Operations Liaison, who bridges AsOne’s U.S. and Uganda teams through data reporting and operations, trip coordination, and leadership development support for AsOne Labs.

Irys holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the United States International University - Africa (USIU-A). She brings a strong background in mission-driven program management, having led multi-country program delivery across East and Southern Africa, with experience in M&E, financial oversight, and cross-cultural team coordination.

Irys is drawn to AsOne’s model and impact—grounded in the belief that every person is made in the image of Christ. She loves that AsOne partners with Ugandan communities to build sustainable access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods, empowering long-term growth.

Outside of work, Irys enjoys swimming, traveling, and immersing herself in new cultures, a fitting complement to a role that keeps her connected across borders.

Irys Ne’win Kanyomozi

Programs and Operations Liaison

Expansion Updates

1) Pallisa Update

Because of your partnership, in February, we launched Community #8 in Pallisawith the opening of a health center and school! This year, the health center will serve over 7,500 patients and the nursery and primary school will welcome 200 students—providing affordable, accessible care and a quality, Christ-centered education. In the upcoming years, your support will help expand that impact to over 10,000 patients and 650+ students.

**AsOne Nursery & Primary School - Pallisa**

**Healing Grace Medical Center - Pallisa**

2) Namutumba Update

Construction is underway at our 9th community in Namutumba, where we will serve more than 650+ students and 10,000 patients each year. The administration and nursery blocks have reached the roofing stage, and the storied building is now in its foundation phase. In Quarter 2, we’ll focus on plastering key buildings, completing the first-floor slab, and beginning construction on dormitories and staff housing.

**Namutumba School - Construction Site**

**Namutumba Health Center - Construction Site**

3) Serere and Luuka High Schools

Construction is progressing at our high schools in Luuka and Serere, serving communities 6 and 7. Key buildings are rising quickly—many already at roofing stage, with classrooms, dormitories, and staff housing on track as we prepare to open in January 2027.

In Q2, we’ll focus on plastering key facilities, advancing roofing for dormitories and staff housing, and completing the first-floor slab of the 12-classroom block. These schools are more than structures—they’re a reflection of how you are building opportunity and hope in rural communities across Uganda. Thank you!

**Serere High School - Construction Site**

**Luuka High School - Construction Site**

Looking Ahead to Q2, 2026

As we enter the second quarter of 2026, we are committed to entering the year strong in alignment with our strategic plan. Focuses for this quarter include:

1) Farming Training Program

In partnership with Farm Input Promotions Africa (FIPs), we equip smallholder farmers with low-cost, modern agriculture practices through a locally led, mentorship-driven model. Village-Based Advisors (VBAs)—trusted farmers chosen by their communities—train and support networks of 150 farmers each, creating a ripple effect of hands-on learning across more than 1,500 farmers per community. Together, they turn their own land into demonstration sites, applying new techniques that increase yields, income, and food security.

In Q2, this farmer training program will focus on the second planting season with key inputs like beans, cassava, sweet potatoes, chicks in Pallisa, and maize across Pallisa, Serere, and Luuka—while also evaluating season one results to strengthen and refine what’s working.

2) Employee Engagement Survey

In Q2, we will conduct an employee engagement survey across our Uganda team of 470+ employees to better understand their experience and areas for growth. We are targeting 85%+ employee satisfaction as a measure of a healthy, supported team. The results will help us make practical improvements to strengthen our culture and how we support staff across every community.

3) Health Center Outreach Expansion

In Q1, we invested in new equipment to expand our health outreach capacity across communities. In Q2, we are targeting monthly outreaches in every community through both mobile health and dental clinics, bringing essential care closer to underserved areas. These outreaches not only provide treatment, but also increase health education and awareness—helping families access care earlier and stay healthier.

AAFCA Accomplishment

We’re thrilled to share that AsOne has earned the Gold Standard Accreditation from the African Council of Accreditation and Accountability (AfCAA). As the first Ugandan organization to receive this recognition, the accreditation affirms AsOne’s commitment to biblical stewardship, transparency, and excellence across leadership, operations, and community impact.

This milestone reflects the integrity and accountability behind the work happening every day—and it’s made possible through the faithful support of partners like you.

ICYMI - 2025 Annual Report

In case you missed it, AsOne’s 2025 Annual Report is now ready to view! In 2025, your generosity helped employ 427 Ugandans, enroll 3,812 students, serve 53,454 patients, and train 33,800 farmers—impacting 91,704 lives across rural communities.

The report shares the stories behind these numbers, highlights program milestones, and shows how locally-led, sustainable programs are creating lasting change in Uganda. Read the report to see the impact you made possible—we are deeply grateful for your support.