Excitement as Bunapongo HCIII is reborn after Rotary intervention

MBALE - A major upgrade of Bunapongo Health Centre III in Mbale District is set to improve maternal and general healthcare services for thousands of residents, following a multi-million shilling intervention by the Rotary Club of Lubowa and partner clubs.

The facility, once plagued by inadequate infrastructure, equipment shortages, and reports of preventable deaths, has been transformed with new buildings and modern medical equipment.

“My sister bled to death as we watched helplessly. The health workers did not even have gloves; there was no space to work from, no ICU, no oxygen machine—nothing. We lost her because the facility could not save her.”

That painful memory still lingers for Olivia Nabukwasi, a mother of three, whose loss reflects the grim past of Bunapongo Health Centre III.

A deadly past

Established in 2010 after community outcry over a lack of access to healthcare, the facility struggled for years with limited space, inadequate equipment, and understaffing.

Expectant mothers often avoided it, opting instead for traditional birth attendants. Winnie Namboozo, a former traditional birth attendant, recalls the lack of trust.

“Until recently, many women came to give birth at my home because the health centre did not have enough facilities to convince them,” she said. “Now they prefer the health facility because it is better equipped. I have virtually run out of business.”

According to Martin Olupot, the officer in charge, conditions at the facility were dire.
“We used one room for everything, from triage to deliveries and even as a changing room for staff. It was risky for both patients and health workers,” he said.

Rotary steps in

Reports of mothers dying during childbirth drew the attention of Rotary clubs, triggering a coordinated intervention.

Peter Kiwanuka, president of the Lubowa club, said the situation demanded urgent action.

“We mobilised support locally and internationally to save mothers and patients from preventable deaths,” Kiwanuka said.

He noted that international partners from Switzerland (RC Allschwill Regio Basel and RC Aarau), India (RC Poona), and the United States (RC Santa Monica) contributed to the effort.

Jubilant residents of Bunapongo village in Mbale district being joined by their Woman MP, Miriam Mukhaye Wanyiaye. (Credit: Javier Silas Omagor)

Assistant governor Alex Kamukama of the Rotary Club of Kajjansi said the intervention delivered tangible results.

“We constructed a hospital building worth sh145 million,” he said. “We also procured equipment worth $45,000 (about sh170 million), including an ultrasound scanner, oxygen machine, ICU equipment, ambulance, solar system, and water tank.”

The upgrade also included a labour suite, wards, beds, and a medical waste incinerator.
Barbra Nekesa, the president of Mbale City Rotary Club, commended RC Lubowa for taking the lead in mobilising partners to respond to the "timely humanitarian gap that limited our people from quality health service."

Gains and gaps

Olupot, the in-charge, said the improvements have strengthened service delivery but noted staffing gaps.

“We need skilled personnel to operate some of the equipment, especially the ultrasound machine,” he said.

Leaders at the handover ceremony described the project as a turning point.
Bulambuli County MP-elect Biira Wepukhulu said the facility will benefit neighbouring districts.

“This investment must now be matched with proper staffing and maintenance,” he said.
Kibale County MP Constantine Okwi urged the government to prioritise functionality.
“We must ensure this equipment is fully utilised by providing the required human resources,” he said.

Mbale District Woman MP Miriam Mukhaye Wanyiaye said the upgrade has eased pressure on leaders. 

“People have been dying from manageable conditions. This intervention is timely,” she noted.

District chairperson Tonny Wamagale pledged to safeguard the investment. “We will ensure these developments are protected and benefit our people,” he said.

Olweny Obbo, director of Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, said strengthening lower health units is key.

“It will help decongest referral hospitals, which are currently overwhelmed,” he said, warning that congestion undermines quality care.

Across Uganda, many communities continue to grapple with poor service delivery and overcrowded public health facilities.

Globally, Rotary International supports health, education, and community projects, often filling critical gaps. In Uganda, Rotary clubs have increasingly stepped in to improve healthcare access.

For Nabukwasi, the transformation is deeply personal.

“Nothing will bring my sister back,” she said. “But if this saves another woman, then her death was not in vain.”

Bunapongo Health Centre III now stands as a renewed beacon of hope, but sustaining the gains will depend on staffing, maintenance, and continued support to ensure no mother dies while giving life.