The Katikiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has thrown his weight behind a multimillion-dollar campaign to build Uganda’s first bone marrow transplant centre.
The ambitious project, led by the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) in partnership with Pearl Bank and Rotary Uganda, aims to raise $4m (£3.1m) to complete a state-of-the-art facility in Lubowa.
Once operational, the centre will offer life-saving treatment for thousands of patients battling sickle cell disease, leukaemia and other complex blood disorders. For decades, many Ugandans have been forced to travel abroad for such procedures, often at a cost that is prohibitive for most families.
Speaking at the Buganda Kingdom headquarters in Bulange, Mengo, Mr Mayiga praised the collaboration, noting that the facility would significantly advance the country’s healthcare capacity.
“This is a major step toward strengthening our ability to treat these conditions at home,” he said, during a meeting with bank and medical officials on Wednesday.
The Lubowa facility is set to become only the second of its kind in East Africa, following a similar centre in Kenya. Dr Cissy Kityo, the executive director of the JCRC, said the foundations have already been laid, but the remaining $4m is essential to install the necessary technology and begin treating patients.
Pearl Bank, an indigenous Ugandan institution, has kick-started the private sector contribution with a commitment of 200m shillings (£41,000).
Julius Kakeeto, the bank’s managing director, described the move as a strategic investment in the nation’s future.
“This isn’t just philanthropy; it’s about building local capacity for highly specialised medical procedures,” Mr Kakeeto said.
To widen the reach of the campaign, the bank has launched an online portal on the JCRC website, allowing the public to donate via mobile money and international credit cards.
For many in Uganda, particularly in the central region, the new centre offers a glimmer of hope. Sickle cell disease is a hereditary condition that affects the shape of red blood cells, causing intense pain and organ damage.
Dr Kityo highlighted that the facility would use advanced cell and gene therapies to provide long-term cures, positioning Uganda as a leader in specialized medicine within the region.
The JCRC has a long history of medical innovation in Uganda. Established in 1991, it was the first institution to roll out antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the country during the height of the HIV/Aids epidemic.
The campaign is also being spearheaded by Rotary International, with several district governors coordinating fundraising efforts across their networks.
