Bam Animal Clinics-Uganda: donkey welfare, August 2025

Bam Animal Clinics successfully conducted four full days of donkey welfare clinics in Koltec and Beniny sub-counties in Kween District in the Elgon region of Uganda. The clinics, providing vet care for donkeys and training owners on humane handling, humane saddle making, and basic donkey health care, were entirely supported by Animal-Kind International.

Humane Saddle Making for Improved Donkey Welfare in Uganda

Bam promotes the use of innovative saddles made from sisal sacks, which are readily available and inexpensive. The saddles are not only easy to craft but also provide plenty of protection and support for donkeys when carrying heavy loads.

In their trainings and through hands-on demos, Bam ensures that women are involved and learn to make, maintain, and use the sisal saddles. Bam director, David Balondemu told us, "We recognize the crucial role women play in using donkeys for daily tasks, such as carrying water, firewood, food, and other essential products to their homes and to markets. By involving women, we aim to equip them with the skills and knowledge to improve the welfare of their donkeys and enhance their own livelihoods."

The women are ready to learn humane saddle making

The corn husks are used to stuff the saddles for padding on the back and sides

All class participants make their own saddles to take home and use on their donkeys

Demonstrating how to properly fit a humane saddle

Of course, men also get involved in humane saddle making training.

Humane saddles start with sisal sacks, readily available and inexpensive

Stuffing a sadlle with corn husks: Everyone gets a chance to make a saddle; hands-on learning helps ensure that donkey owners leave the class knowing how to craft a saddle.

Two donkeys model their new humane saddles

Mobile Vet Clinics for Improved Donkey Welfare in Uganda

Without Bam's mobile vet clinics, donkeys would be left to suffer or worse, die, without getting the urgent medical treatment they often desperately need. In these remote areas, Bam provides the only accessible vet care.

Before clinic day, Bam mobilizes donkey owners to bring their donkeys for vet care and training on humane handling, dealing with common health issues, loading capacities, working periods, and of course, saddle making.

Many donkeys and their owners are waiting to see a Bam vet and/or animal health care worker

Bam veterinarians conduct individual examinations, and if any health issues are found, the Bam team is prepared to provide treatment and support.

Treating a wound on a donkey's back-these injuries are very common because owners rarely use saddles and they overload donkeys--which is why Bam's training is so critical

Bam vets and animal health care workers visit with each donkey and owner

This posture is unusual in donkeys and indicates an underlying health issue.

This donkey was telling us she wasn't feeling well

When Bam staff saw this donkey, they knew she was miserable, but it wasn't immediately apparent what was going on with her. Her owner gave no indication that he was aware of an issue. But once the vets closely examined her, they discovered that she had deep and infected wounds beneath her ears.

Lucky donkey-no more suffering!

The Bam team thoroughly cleaned the wounds and treated them with antibiotic spray. They are monitoring the donkey to ensure her ears heal properly.