Bruno's Kafunjo School for Orphans
Hello,
This fundraiser is intended to support a start-up school that is providing an education to approximately 350 (number changes term to term) very poor and/or orphaned children in the village of Kafunjo in Ibanda, Africa. The long term goal is to get the school self sustainable through agriculture but until then donations are their only support in getting established.
My name is D.J. Cochrane from Tucson, AZ and this is the back story:
In 2013, a young Christian man from Uganda, named Bruno Biryomumaisho, 
fueled by his faith, and compassion, followed through on a quest/calling to open a school dedicated to caring for the numerous poor and orphaned children (regardless of their religious beliefs) in the small village of Kafunjo, in the District of Ibanda, in the country Uganda, Africa. 
Through his tireless efforts of networking online and off, he and his small staff now provide an education and at least one meal a day to about 350 (a number that changes every school term) poor and orphaned children.
*Update. As of March 11, 2017 we have 20 students that have both parents, 250 that have at least one parent, and 70 studands that are actual orphans that live with a guardian. 
In doing this, Bruno has also partnered up with a gentleman and friend named Jonathan Stark.
Stark, a former Conservationist for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey in the British Channel Islands, and the Director of the Great ApeVentures eco Voluntourism company, met Bruno in 2008 while studying the Mountain Gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable National park, where Bruno was working as a guide. After befriending and keeping in touch with Bruno over the years, Stark saw Bruno's heart and dream to change his community for the better, which eventually lead Stark to help the cause by establishing and becoming the Fundraising Manager for the Kafunjo Community Project, thus setting up a UK based GoFundMe page called "Bruno's Orphans" to help raise support. (Currently GoFundMe.com does not work directly with the Country of Uganda.)
http://www.kafunjo.org
Bruno's Orphans (UK GoFundMe)
In 2015, Bruno has been able to raise enough funds to build a small building in which to teach and feed the kids, but none the less, it is not big enough to accomodate the growing need.
*Update. In March of 2017, the school built a total of 5 classrooms.
Here's where I come in.
Starting in 2014, and into 2016 I studied and watched Bruno make contact with me, and other people whom I know, via Facebook in order to find ways to make friends, connections and hopefully find people who would be interested in helping him change the destiny of the kids in his community.
After a while of watching Bruno's posts about the progress he has made (with the help ofJonathan Stark and a few others), my heart strings began to pull for his cause and I decided I wanted to help too.
My wife and I started donating to "Bruno's Orpahans" and commuicating with Stark and another British gentleman named Ryan Bond, (both of whom have well documented their visits with Bruno in the recent past), about what they have seen and done there.
Not long after, Bruno asked me if I was interested in sharing his new budget plan with some of my friends on Facebook. After discussing the idea with Jonathan Stark and Bruno, we came to the conclusion that I would start a US based GoFundme page where Americans can easily donate in US dollars instead of British Pounds. (This would prevent people from having to calculate currency conversions and communicate with their banks about why the money is being sent to the UK like I had to.) When the donated funds grow to a significant amount, I will (in the same way Jonathan Stark does), withdraw the money from GoFundMe, briefly deposit it into my account and then immediately MoneyGram it to a bank/MoneyGram pick-up station in Ibanda, Uganda where Bruno can receive it and convert it into Ugandan shillings.
Just recently Nov 2016, Bruno and Jonathan made a huge step towards sustainability by putting a down payment on two hectares of land that will be used to grow and sell vegetables for the kids, and as well grow eucalyptus trees to eventually sell as lumber for it is in high demand. The land costs 12 million Ugandan shillings ($3,347.00 US dollars), and so far we have paid 5.5 million shillings ($1,533.00 US dollars).
* Update. In Febuary of 2017, the farm land was paid in full.
Here is a known list of approximate monthly running costs/expenses:
*Updated: October 2018
15 Staff members salaries approximately : 3,610,000 UGX/ $980
Fire wood approximately: 300,000 UGX/ $81
Food cost approximately : 1,200,000 UGX/ $326
Transportation approximately: 190,000 UGX/ $51
medical costs approximately: 250,000 UGX/ $68
7 Teacher’s accommodations approximately: 400,000 UGX/ $109
Total of approximately: 5,950,000 UGX/ $1,615 a month
1. Four New restrooms expenses:
4 dugged-out restroom Holes 400000UGX/$111.43-Paid *4/5/17
Bricks 320000ugx/ $89.14- paid
Cement 200000ugx/ $55.71-paid
Iron bars 170000ugx/$47.35- paid
Stones 90000ugx/$25.07-Paid *4/5/17
Timbers 50000ugx/ $13.92-paid
Iron sheets 140000ugx/$39.00 -paid
Workers 150000ugx/$41.78-Paid*4/5/17
2. Some of the Gov. required changes to the Five classrooms
Metal Shutters for Windows 1950000ugx/$543.23- paid 1000000ugx/$278.58 thus far. All Paid *4/5/17
Fixing Windows 120000ugx/$33.42-Paid *4/5/17
Cementing 3 rooms 400000ugx/$11.43- paid
Sand 320000ugx/$89.14-Paid *4/5/17
Transportation 190000ugx/$52.93-Paid*4/5/17
Labour/workers 400000ugx/$111.43-Paid *4/5/17
Doors 1750000ugx/$487.51-Paid *4/5/17
3. Expenses that the Ibanda district headquarters requires for signing documents that allows the school to operate as mandated by the National Government.
Signatures and stamps for officers (forced bribe money) 500000ugx/$139.29-Paid *4/5/17
Site plans 1490000ugx/$415.08- Paid *4/5/17
Building plan 500000ugx/$139.29-Paid*4/5/17
Food for workers 320000ugx/$89.14-Paid *4/5/17
Photo copying 500000ugx/$139.29- paid
*update 4/5/17
Here is a list of new expenses to build a fence around the school. (Apparently the owner of the land next door to the school is no longer tolerating the kids walking/playing on his side of the property line, and has threatened to take Bruno to court over it.)
15 loads of Bricks: 1,125,000 ugx/$311.46-paid*5/9/17
Brick transportation Fee: 600,000 ugx/$166.11-Paid* 5/9/17
10 loads of sand: 400,000 ugx/$110.74-Paid* 5/9/17
Sand transportation Fee: 300,000 ugx/$83.05- Paid* 5/9/17
8 Loads of stones: 480,000 ugx/$132.89-Paid* 5/9/17
Stone Transportation fee: 320,000 ugx/$88.59-Paid* 5/9/17
20 bags of cement: 900,000 ugx/$249.17-Paid* 5/9/17
Labor: 1,200,000 ugx/$332.23-Paid* 5/9/17
*Update 5/9/17, Bruno informed that the Fense around the school is built and paid for!
*Update 5/9/17.
New budget plan for the School office:
1) 3 loads of stones- 240,000 ugx/$ 66.14-Paid*6/16/17
2) 8 loads of bricks - 320,000 ugx/$ 88.18- Paid* 6/16/17
3) 7 loads of sand- 350,000 ugx/$ 96.45-Paid*6/16/17
4) 16 bags of cement- 592,000 ugx/$ 163.14
5) 16 iron bars- 448,000 ugx/$ 123.46
6) 10 rigs- 70,000 ugx/$ 19.29-Paid*6/16/17
7) 6kg of Binding Wire- 36,000 ugx/$ 9.92
8) 24 iron sheets- 840,000 ugx/$ 231.49
9) 16kg of nails- 104,000 ugx/$ 28.66
10) 21 timber logs- 210,000 ugx/$ 57.87
11) 4 yards of water proof- 30,000 ugx/$ 8.26-Paid*6/16/17
12) labor- 2,100,000 ugx/$ 578.73
13) food for workers- 120,000 ugx/$ 33.07
14) 3 doors- 750,000 ugx/$ 206.69
15) 3 windows- 450,000 ugx/$ 124.01
Total: 6,660,000 ugx/$1,837.22
*Update 6/16/18
Adding School Storage Room Budget (attached to Office):
1) 20 iron sheets- 700,000 ugx/$ 194.90
2) 2 Windows- 300,000 ugx/$ 83.52
3) 1 door- 200,000 ugx/$ 55.68
4) 16 bags of cement 592,000 ugx/$ 164.83
5) 16 iron bars- 448,000 ugx/$ 124.73
6) 6 kg of binding wires- 36,000 ugx/$ 10.02
7) 21 timbers logs- 2 10,000 ugx/$ 58.47
8) 3 yds of water proofing- 15,000 ugx/$ 4.17
9) Labor- 2,100,000 ugx/$ 584.70
12) 7 loads of bricks- 280,000 ugx/$ 77.96
13) 5 loads of sand- 250,000 ugx/$ 69.60
14) 3 loads of stones- 240,000 ugx/$ 66.82
15) 10 rings- 70,000 ugx/$ 19.49
Total: 5,441,000 ugx/$ 1,514.89
Other Expenses:
Bruno’s personal annual rent: $ 500.00
Unfortunatley, according to GoFundMe, this fundraiser has yet to be considered tax deductable; but if you still find it worthy of your hard earned money, we would greatly appreciate even the smallest amount donated.
Thank you so so much.
D.J. Cochrane
12/24/16 Update-After visiting Bruno ourselves, My wife and I now have a better understanding of the life Bruno, and his fellow villagers live. Everyone, including Bruno, live far below what Americans would call the "Poverty Line" I also found out that Bruno has no other job except running this school, and tirelessly keeping it a float through fundraising. He doesn't have steady personal income. That means he too (and his wife) also depend on donations to live. So I want all the people who have/will contribute to this cause to know that they are not just supporting the kids, but Bruno as well. He is the back bone of this project. We need to keep him afloat inorder to keep the school afloat.
All above Photographs provided by Jonathan Stark.
Below images provied by D.J. Cochrane
Images of our November 2016 trip to visit the school:
Bruno leading the conversation with us and the local families that wanted to meet us. 
Always having a good time with the kids.
Bruno teaching a Sunday Church Service. 
Classroom under construction. 
Lunch Time! (Posho & Beans)
Frist Restrooms.
Below Images are from January 2018 Trip:
Welcome Songs
Bruno's Family (Irene his wife, and biological son Jabez)
Hanging out with some of the students
Myself, Bruno, and Bigimba Nagabo. (also, I find it funny that Bruno is wearing the same shirt from the pictures from 2016.)
Where Bruno, and family lives. (just down the road from the school)
*Update 1/9/19. Bruno's land lord forced Bruno and his family out because he need to live there instead. So right now Bruno and Family are staying at the school until their own place can be established.
Bruno and son Jabez
newer classrooms
First Solar power panel!
Now they can meet and have night classes for adults
making use the the electricity 
New metal doors
someday we will have desks. 
more restrooms. 
Campus view from the rooms.
*update 9/26/2020. Check out this video made by our UK partners about the progress the school has made.