KAMPALA, June 29 — For families across Uganda, access to safe blood can mean the difference between life and death. That reality is now driving a new partnership between the Rotary Club of Uptown Kampala and the Buganda kingdom, aimed at dramatically expanding blood donation across the region. Dr Fredrick Bakandonda, who just took office as the club’s new president, laid out the vision during a leadership handover ceremony at St Anthony’s Restaurant in Nakasero on June 27.
Community health, he said, will be the top priority for the 2026/2027 Rotary year. “We cannot build strong communities without healthy people,” Bakandonda explained.
The club’s plan tackles a critical bottleneck: instead of relying on a single collection point for blood donations, they will work with the Buganda kingdom to establish between six and eight donation centres across the kingdom’s traditional counties, known as Amasaza. The goal is to collect 1,000 units of blood and strengthen supplies at Mengo Hospital. Starting July 25, the club will launch a mega medical camp in partnership with clubs sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kampala South.
Bakandonda said the camp will focus on immunisation, extend medical care to young people, provide maternal care to mothers, and screen for cancers. The outreach doesn’t stop in Kampala.
“To extend our services to Eastern Uganda, we are also working with the Rotaract Club of Mbale Uptown to carry out a health camp on the road,” Bakandonda said. Phase one will take place in Iganga, with phase two moving to Mbale. Beyond health, the club is also turning its attention to the environment.
Bakandonda said they will intensify conservation efforts by promoting tree planting, educating communities on sustainable energy use, and encouraging measures to reduce pollution. The ceremony at St Anthony’s Restaurant marked the official start of this work.
