Stanbic, rotary commit Sh600m to maternal, newborn health
“Uganda has set itself an ambitious goal of growing its economy to $500 billion by 2040. We cannot achieve that vision if women, who are the backbone of our families, communities and future workforce, continue to face preventable risks during childbirth,” Muganwa said.
Dr Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, welcomed the partnership, saying improving maternal health required cooperation beyond government.
KAMPALA - Stanbic Bank Uganda and Rotary Mama Toto Care Uganda have committed Sh600 million over three years to strengthen maternal and newborn health services in public health facilities.
The partnership, signed on August 20, 2026, at Stanbic Bank’s Learning and Development Centre in Kampala, will support health-facility improvements, frontline health-worker training, referral systems and community mobilisation to promote antenatal care and safe delivery.
The initiative will also introduce an adopt-a-health-centre model, under which selected public health facilities will receive targeted support based on identified maternal and newborn health needs.
Stanbic Bank Executive Director Paul Muganwa said investing in maternal health was critical to Uganda’s economic development.
“Uganda has set itself an ambitious goal of growing its economy to $500 billion by 2040. We cannot achieve that vision if women, who are the backbone of our families, communities and future workforce, continue to face preventable risks during childbirth,” Muganwa said.
He said preventable maternal deaths represented a loss not only to families but also to the country's human capital and productivity.
“A healthy mother is the cornerstone of a productive workforce and a prosperous nation,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of Rotary Mama Toto Care Uganda, Magezi Ndamira said the programme was designed to strengthen the existing public health system rather than create parallel structures.
“We strengthen government health facilities and equip healthcare workers who are already serving within the Ministry of Health. Our guiding principle is simple: where is the greatest need, and where can our intervention make the biggest difference?” Ndamira said.
He said the programme, which began in 2022, would focus on four areas: training and re-skilling healthcare workers, providing essential maternal and newborn equipment, mobilising communities and improving referral systems and quality of care.
Ndamira said maternal health challenges often begin before a woman reaches a health facility and can continue after she arrives.
“We stand with the mother who begins labour many kilometres from a health facility. We stand with the mother who arrives hoping there is equipment and skilled healthcare workers to help her deliver safely,” he said.
He said the intervention would support midwives, nurses and doctors with the skills and equipment required to manage complications during childbirth.
Dr Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, welcomed the partnership, saying improving maternal health required cooperation beyond government.
“Maternal health is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Health alone. It requires government, the private sector, communities and development partners working together to remove barriers that prevent women from accessing quality care,” Olaro said.
He said private-sector and development-partner interventions complement government efforts to improve health infrastructure, strengthen the availability of skilled health workers and expand access to quality maternal care.
Rotary District 9213 Governor Dr Gerald Obai said the partnership demonstrated how different sectors could combine resources to address maternal mortality.
“Maternal mortality is not a challenge that the government or Rotary can solve alone. It requires businesses, communities and development partners working together to save lives,” Obai said.
Stanbic Bank Manager for Corporate Social Investment Diana Ondoga said the partnership contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 3 on Good Health and Well-being and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.
Over the three years, the partners will support improvements at selected public health facilities, train frontline health workers, strengthen referral systems and mobilise communities on safe motherhood practices.
The partners said success would ultimately be measured not by the Sh600 million committed, but by whether the intervention improves the quality of care and helps prevent avoidable deaths of mothers and newborns.