Health
Over 350 units of blood collected as Lira Pakistan community celebrates independence
Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day was celebrated on August 14, 2026. However, the Pakistani community living in Lira organised its belated celebration on August 30, 2026.
The Uganda Red Cross team collects blood during the Lira Pakistan Association camp in Lira City on Sunday. (Credit: Joseph Ekol)
By: Joseph Ekol, Journalist @New Vision
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More than 350 units of blood were collected during a blood donation camp organised by the Lira Pakistani Association as the community marked its belated Independence Day celebrations.
Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day was celebrated on August 14, 2026. However, the Pakistani community living in Lira organised its belated celebration on August 30, 2026.
The event took place at GB Restaurant and was officiated by relief, disaster preparedness and refugees minister Sam Engola.
In response to the high demand for blood in the region, the Pakistani community mobilised local residents to donate blood, resulting in a good turnout.
Hellen Grace Anyoda, the senior blood donor recruitment officer at Lira Regional Blood Bank, commended the Lira Pakistani community, saying this was the highest number of blood units collected in the history of blood donation in Lira, where people had previously shunned blood donation.
Anyoda commended the Pakistani Association for organising the camp and urged other associations to follow its example in addressing the growing need for blood in the region.
Hellen Grace Anyoda, the senior blood donor recruitment officer at Lira Regional Blood Bank, commended the Lira Pakistani community, saying this was the highest number of blood units collected in the history of blood donation in Lira, where people had previously shunned blood donation.
Anyoda commended the Pakistani Association for organising the camp and urged other associations to follow its example in addressing the growing need for blood in the region.
She said the Lira region has a target of 1,430 units of blood but has consistently failed to achieve it despite the high demand in the Lango region, where there are high rates of both sickle cell disease and malaria.
Ateeq Nawaz, the president of the Lira Pakistani Association, said they chose to organise a blood donation camp as part of their Independence Day celebrations to give back to the local community in Lango, which has provided them with a peaceful environment in which to conduct their businesses.
Parliamentary commissioner and Otuke district woman MP Susan Jolly Abeja, several local leaders in Lira city and representatives of Lango cultural institutions attended the event, which concluded with a dinner at St Lira Hotel.
Minister Engola thanked Lira Pakistani Association president Nawaz and its members for organising the camp to collect blood, saying the donation would go a long way towards addressing the blood needs of the local community.
He congratulated the donors and appealed to them to make blood donation a routine even when they are not mobilised by the Pakistani community.
Ateeq Nawaz, the president of the Lira Pakistani Association, said they chose to organise a blood donation camp as part of their Independence Day celebrations to give back to the local community in Lango, which has provided them with a peaceful environment in which to conduct their businesses.
Parliamentary commissioner and Otuke district woman MP Susan Jolly Abeja, several local leaders in Lira city and representatives of Lango cultural institutions attended the event, which concluded with a dinner at St Lira Hotel.
Minister Engola thanked Lira Pakistani Association president Nawaz and its members for organising the camp to collect blood, saying the donation would go a long way towards addressing the blood needs of the local community.
He congratulated the donors and appealed to them to make blood donation a routine even when they are not mobilised by the Pakistani community.