Rotarians, Uganda blood bank pool efforts to achieve blood sufficiency
Rotary District 9214 has chosen voluntary blood donation as its first flagship community service activity, with leaders setting an ambitious target of collecting 3,000 units of blood on July 1 alone and 10,000 units over the course of the Rotary year.
L–R: Rotarian Cynthia Baitwa, Daniel Mukasa Ddamulira, District Governor-Elect for Rotary District 9214, and Dr Dorothy Kyeyune Byabazaire, Executive Director of the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS), pose for a photo during the launch of the Rotary Mega Blood Donation Drive at the Nakasero Blood Bank on Friday, June 26, 2026. (Photo by Lawrence Mulondo)
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A group of Rotararians have joined the ‘Mega Blood Donation Drive’ with Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS), which will secure the Blood Bank with more 10,000 units in the next one year.
The development was announced at a joint press conference between the incoming leadership of the Rotary Dist9214, led by the district governor (designate) Daniel Mukasa Damulira, and UBTS hierarchy, headed by executive director, Dr Dorothy Kyeyune Byabazaire, convened at the Blood Bank Nakasero in Kampala on Friday, June 26, 2026.
The partnership comes just days before the new Rotary leadership for the 2026/2027 year officially assumes office globally on July 1, 2026.
Dr Byabazaire described the initiative as a major public health intervention that could significantly improve Uganda's blood supply while saving thousands of lives.
Dr Dorothy Kyeyune Byabazaire, Executive Director of the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS), addresses participants during the launch of the Rotary Mega Blood Donation Drive at the Nakasero Blood Bank on June 26, 2026. (Photo by Lawrence Mulondo)
She reiterated that blood donation is not merely a charitable exercise but a life-saving act because every unit collected offers hope to patients in urgent need of transfusions.
"Your blood is someone's hope to live," she said while explaining that donated blood remains indispensable in treating mothers experiencing childbirth complications, children suffering severe malaria-related anaemia, accident victims, cancer patients, surgical patients and many others whose survival depends on timely access to safe blood.
She noted that blood is among the few medical resources that cannot be manufactured, making voluntary blood donors an irreplaceable pillar of Uganda's healthcare system.
L–R: Daniel Mukasa Ddamulira, District Governor-Elect for Rotary District 9214; Rotarian Cynthia Baitwa; and Rotarian Florence Mukiibi listen as Swaib Kasuba, Laboratory Manager at Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, explains the process of handling donated blood during the launch of the Rotary Mega Blood Donation Drive at the Nakasero Blood Bank on Friday, June 26, 2026. (Photo by Lawrence Mulondo)
Byabazaire added that closing that gap requires stronger collaboration beyond government and health workers alone.
She emphasised that schools, faith-based organisations, companies, communities, the media and civic organisations such as Rotary all have an important role in encouraging Ugandans to donate blood voluntarily, regularly and selflessly.
While assuring the public that UBTS has adequate capacity to safely collect, process, test and store donated blood, she cautioned that blood has a limited shelf life, making continuous collection and distribution essential throughout the year rather than only during emergencies.
She also appealed to the media to sustain awareness campaigns on voluntary blood donation instead of highlighting blood shortages only when hospitals face crises.
"Let us give blood. Let us save lives. Let each one engage for impact," she concluded.
Rotary District 9214 blood donation chair, Cynthia Baitwa said the drive is instrumental for the district's theme, "Each One Engage for Impact," and the introduction of Rotary Community Impact Days, which will feature six major community service activities across Uganda and Tanzania during the year.
She said UBTS will oversee donor screening, blood collection, laboratory testing, safety procedures and official reporting, while Rotary will mobilise volunteers, coordinate awareness campaigns, engage the media and monitor implementation.
“Rotary clubs, Rotaractors and Interactors will lead mobilisation in schools, universities, institutions and surrounding communities, with several collection centres established across the district's five corridors. Beyond the July 1 launch, additional district-wide blood donation drives have been scheduled for October 9, 2026 and March 3, 2027,” Baitwa said.
Damulira described blood donation as one of the most practical ways through which Rotary members can demonstrate service above self.
Having toured the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services facility, Damulira said Rotary leaders had witnessed first-hand the rigorous scientific procedures involved in collecting, testing and preserving safe blood for patients.
He linked the campaign to Rotary International's 2026/2027 global presidential message, "Create Lasting Impact," saying Rotary's projects must leave meaningful and sustainable change in communities.
At the district level, he unveiled the local theme, "Each One Engage for Impact," calling upon every Rotarian, Rotaractor, Interactor and partner organisation to take personal responsibility for improving lives.
He announced that Rotary District 9214 will organise six Rotary Community Impact Days throughout the year, with the Mega Blood Donation Drive serving as the first flagship activity.
Damulira also called upon journalists to help educate the public that voluntary blood donation is safe while encouraging eligible Ugandans to become regular donors instead of waiting until emergencies arise.
He urged Rotary clubs to fully support their assigned collection centres, mobilise communities and document the impact created through the campaign.