UGANDA, Kabale | Real Muloodi News | On Friday 2nd December 2022, the Bank of Uganda (BoU) handed over a newly constructed, fully furnished maternity ward to Rubaya Health Center IV in Kabale District, valued at more than USh400 million.
BoU named the new of the new maternity block ‘Mutebile Maternity Ward’ in honour of the late former BoU Governor, Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, who had initiated the project.
Renovating healthcare facilities is a component of the BoU’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, under the theme ‘Maternal and Child Health Care for a Healthy Society’, explained Susan Kanyemibwa, Board Secretary for the BoU during the handover ceremony.
Kanyemibwa added the outreach programme has since expanded into nine districts, including Jinja, Masaka, Fort Portal, Mbarara, Arua, Mbale, Gulu and Kabale, where BoU has regional currency centres. The funds for these initiatives were raised as part of the bank’s 50th Anniversary Charity Walk, which was held in 2016.
“So far we have completed works on nine Health Centres, namely, Bwizibwera Health Centre IV in Mbarara District, Ayivuni Health Centre III in Arua District, Nakaloke Health Centre III in Mbale District, Omel Health Centre II in Gulu District, Hamurwa Health Center IV IN Rubanda District, Budondo Health Centre IV, Kyanamukaka Health Centre IV, Rutete Health Centre III, and Rubaya Health Centre IV,” Kanyemibwa said.
She also discussed the third phase’s intentions to renovate and modernise the Kigorobya Health Centre IV in the Hoima District, the Rwoburunga Health Centre III in the Mitooma District, and the Magoro Health Centre III in the Katakwi District.
The project was started by the BoU and the Kabale District government, under the direction of the late governor Mutebile, according to Deputy Governor of the BoU Michael Atingi-Ego.
He stated that to maintain its contribution to the population’s productivity for enhanced competitiveness and a higher standard of living for all, BoU must continue to promote maternal, neonatal, and child health care under corporate social responsibility.
Additionally, he urged the Kabale District administration to promote financial literacy and educate everyone about the importance of creating surpluses that can be sold on both physical and digital marketplaces.
“The BoU is available to work with the district leaders on extending financial literacy to every household,” said Atingi-Ego.
The Prof. Mutebile family, led by his wife Betty Kyakyo Mutebile and Prof. Mutebile’s younger brother Major General Timothy Sabiiti Mutebile, was also there.
The previous governor’s family congratulated the BoU for realising the former governor’s ambition of promoting maternal health after he lost his mother when he was five years old while she was giving birth to his younger brother.
The BoU Deputy Governor planted a memory tree alongside ceremony attendees, including Mrs Betty Tumusiime-Mutebile, and said that the Bank will support the planting of several more trees at the Rubaya Facility for flowers, shade, fruit, and hedging.
The authorities also visited and spoke with the mums on the maternity ward. The Kabale chairman, Nelson Nshangabasheija, said that Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, the former prime minister, advocated for the BoU project through Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, who was the bank’s governor at the time, in 2019.
The event’s special guest, State Minister for Trade David Bahati, praised the BoU for helping to improve the nation’s healthcare infrastructure and maternal health.
76 expecting moms visit Rubaya Health Center IV per month.
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