The Batwa pygmies, conservation refugees from the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, were indigenous forest nomads in southwestern Uganda for millennia. In 1992 they were evicted from the rainforest when it was made a World Heritage Site to protect the endangered mountain gorilla. As hunter/gatherers, the Batwa had no title to land and were given no compensation. Outside the forest, their existence became a major struggle for survival. They are one of the most impoverished people groups on earth.

American physician Dr. Scott Kellermann and his wife Carol have served as medical missionaries to the Batwa since 2001. The Kellermann Foundation was created to support and expand their work, empowering the Batwa to break the cycle of poverty through the Batwa Development Program, and providing healthcare through Bwindi Community
Hospital. These partner programs make a daily difference in the lives of the Batwa and other residents of this remote corner of Uganda.

Bwindi Community Hospital

The hospital, founded by Dr. Kellermann, began a decade ago as an open-air clinic for the Batwa. BCH now provides first-rate healthcare to the entire population of a large area of southwest Uganda. For the past 3 years, it has been rated the best hospital in Uganda, and its community outreach programs reach thousands of Uganda’s poorest and most isolated citizens. This amazing institution has been described as one of the most successful healthcare centers in the developing world.

 

The Kellermann Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Our funding comes from individuals and organizations.

Batwa Development Program

The BDP is the Batwa-run group that oversees education and other projects. The first generation of Batwa pygmies to attend school is hard at work. Yet the Batwa are not forgetting their past—one of the BDP’s newest projects is the Batwa Experience, a living history cultural site where Batwa elders teach the children about their forest heritage and allow tourists a glimpse into their past.

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