Buganda kingdom lauds Rotary club of Kiwafu Breeze Muyenga for championing sickle cell disease burden

By Darlington Mabonga

Health: The Buganda kingdom 2nd deputy Katikiro and minister of finance Owek.Rtn.Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa has pledged to strengthen collaboration with the Rotary club of Kiwafu Breeze Muyenga in their conserted effort in combating the sickle cell burden in the country.

Nsibirwa who is also the Rotary district past governor [PDG] made the remarks last Friday night during the colorful installation of the maiden president of the club Rtn Erostus Nsubuga Njuki at Muyenga which is the newest Club in the country.

He told the over 100 distinguished Rotarians,Rotaractors and friends of the club during the high profile dinner that Rt Erostus Nsubuga was instrumental in lobbying the Mengo government to add the sickle cell disease on their annual Kabaka birthday marathon which idea was fully embraced

The Kabaka allowed sickle cell disease program to be integrated into the annual Kabaka birthday marathon which development highly gave prominence to the burden which resulted into the club building capacity through seeking development partners to support this flagship project.

The BMK group of companies director Jamil Kasujja Muwanga praised Nsubuga for being an innovative person who approached their elder brother now the late Brahim Muwanga Kibirige aka BMK for the partnership which resulted into formation of the Uganda Sickle cell Rescue foundation [USCRF]

We are deeply indebted to DFCU Bank for believing in a club that is barely a year old with their social corporate responsibility commitment has turned a Rotary idea into a National Impact program

Nsubuga says that they are among the first few Rotary clubs in Africa who have recognised sickle cell disease as a critical health issue.which development has propelled them to take up the lead in championing the fight to reduce the burden through mass public sensitization campaigns.

Nsubuga observed that the proposed center will provide comprehensive care under one roof extending critical services ranging from newborn screening, specialized clinics, pain management hydroxyurea,psychosocial support, and research as well as serving as a training hub for health workers across the Rotary district 9214.

We are grateful to Nsambya hospital for the land and to Rotary for the vision and the proposed center will be a beacon of hope for thousands of families said Dr.Andrew Ssekitoleko, the chief executive officer Nsambya hospital.

Ssekitoleko said that their board took a bold decision to respond to the request placed before them by Rtn Nsubuga and team to support this project because of the large numbers of victims especially children.

Rtn Nsubuga thanked the government through the ministry of health top management for recently February 9th 2026 launching a Nationwide mandatory newborn screening program for sickle cell disease aimed at improving early diagnosis and.management.

This initiative he noted follows the recognition of the disease as a major public health concern.

Turning to the partnership with Uganda sickle cell Rescue foundation,[ USCRF] Nsubuga said non of this happens in isolation as the foundation is their technical partner providing clinical protocols counselor training and national data alignment and ensure every camp meets the ministry of health standards where every patient identified is linked to care.

About the schools to Universities, taking testing to the youth program

The club administrator Kathy Aduba Odong separately thanked the partnership with DFCU Bank whose generous funding has underwritren every outreach, as they have already conducted two major medical camps this year with the first being held at Greenhill Academy Kampala were over 302 students and teachers were screened, counseled and given their genotype status with many being their first time.

Later hosted another camp at Seeta high school Mukono were another 306 young people joined the 'Know Your Genotype 'movement were each camp combined free testing with youth friendly education sessions led by warriors and medical volunteers

The Greenhill Academy schools Rector Joy Maraka said most of their students didn't know their status, yet they are at the age where relationships begin however Rotary gave them power to make informed future life choices

Kathy noted that they are not just screening students but screening Uganda's future parents adding that under their campaign of covering educational institutions she highlighted that they are moving out to Clarke International University were they expect to screen over 300 undergraduates with target coverage up to end of June 2027 being 1,200 youths.