DFCU Board Chairman Jimmy D. Mugerwa has donated blood at the DFCU-Rotary Uganda Mega Medical Camp in Kamwokya, Kampala Central, as he called for stronger partnerships to expand access to healthcare and improve the well-being of Ugandans.
Mugerwa, who also chairs the Board of Governors of Mengo Hospital and serves as an Assistant Governor in Rotary District 9214, participated in the medical outreach held at the Seventh-day Adventist Church grounds, where health professionals were offering free consultations, screening, treatment and other specialised services.
He arrived at about 12:30 p.m., toured the medical tents and received briefings from health workers on the services being offered and the number of people who had benefited from the camp. He later addressed the media before undergoing a medical check-up and donating blood.
Speaking during the outreach, Mugerwa said the partnership between dfcu Bank and Rotary Uganda reflects a shared commitment to improving people’s lives through practical community service.
“At dfcu, our purpose is to transform the lives of our customers but also for the businesses in Uganda,” Mugerwa said, adding that the bank’s responsibility goes beyond providing financial solutions to supporting the communities that sustain its operations.
He said the collaboration with Rotary Uganda and other partners, including Mengo Hospital and medical service providers, demonstrates how organisations can combine resources and expertise to address pressing community needs.
Mugerwa described the Kamwokya initiative as a comprehensive medical camp offering a wide range of services, including general medical consultations, blood pressure checks, urinary tract infection testing, sickle cell screening, eye and dental care, circumcision, mental health support and family planning.
He said corporate social responsibility should be viewed not merely as charity but as an obligation for institutions seeking to contribute to national development.
“A healthy population is the foundation of strong families and productive businesses, and ultimately a better Uganda,” he said.
Blood donation and sickle cell awareness
Mugerwa’s blood donation formed part of the camp’s wider effort to mobilise blood supplies for patients in need of transfusions.
He said the organisers had set a target of collecting 65 units of blood during the outreach, but the team had collected 20 units by the time of his address.
He urged more people to donate blood, emphasising the importance of maintaining adequate supplies for hospitals and patients requiring transfusions.
The blood donation exercise was supported by Mengo Hospital, where Mugerwa also serves as chairman of the Board of Governors.
He further highlighted the need to increase awareness, testing and support for people living with sickle cell disease, particularly children, who remain vulnerable to the condition’s complications.
Mugerwa said dfcu Bank would continue supporting the sickle cell clinic annually through proceeds from its dfcu Sickle Cell Campaign, Hope in Motion, as part of efforts to promote awareness and reduce stigma surrounding the disease.
He noted that addressing sickle cell disease requires more than treating patients, calling for increased public education and early testing to help families understand their status and access appropriate care.
“If through our voice, our resources, and the partnerships such as this one, we encourage more people to know their sickle cell status, we shall seek and become good providers,” he said.
Rotary calls for sustained community interventions
Raymond Andrew Kalema, Vice Chairman of the Projects and Services Committee at the Rotary Club of Kitante, said the club had been organising medical camps in Kamwokya for about five years, with community turnout increasing over time.
He said previous outreaches typically served between 500 and 600 people, but organisers expected the latest camp to reach more than 1,000 beneficiaries, with a target of between 1,000 and 1,500 people.
Kalema said Rotary had responded to community feedback by prioritising the availability of medicines alongside diagnosis and referrals, ensuring that patients could receive treatment after being examined.
The camp offered services including eye care, dental treatment, cervical cancer screening, prostate health services and blood donation, among other interventions.
He said the medical outreaches were particularly important in communities where many residents struggle to afford basic necessities and healthcare.
Kalema cited previous Rotary interventions in Kamwokya, including the installation of water pumps to improve access to water for hygiene and sanitation, as examples of the club’s broader commitment to community welfare.
He called on more organisations and sponsors to support similar initiatives, noting that the area’s proximity to affluent neighbourhoods does not reflect the economic hardships faced by some of its residents.
DFCU-Rotary partnership expands healthcare access
The Kamwokya medical camp is part of a wider dfcu Bank partnership with Rotary Uganda aimed at bringing essential healthcare services closer to communities across the country.
A year ago, dfcu Bank committed Shs1 billion over three years to support Rotary Uganda’s health initiatives, including community medical camps, screening, health education, referrals and access to specialised care.
Since the partnership began, more than 30,000 Ugandans have benefited from the programme, including 22 children from western Uganda who have received heart surgeries.
Other outreach activities have been conducted in Nakivubo, Mbuya, Kasenyi Landing Site, Mbarara, Ibanda, Masaka and Mutungo, where a separate medical camp served 424 people.
Mugerwa said the partners intended to sustain the initiative beyond a single day, noting that the health needs of communities such as Kamwokya require continued engagement and support.
He thanked the participating Rotary clubs, medical teams, sponsors and media for contributing to the campaign, urging stakeholders to continue working together to deliver services to vulnerable communities.
The outreach reinforces dfcu Bank’s broader development agenda, which dates back to its establishment in 1964 as a development finance institution supporting Uganda’s economic growth and has since expanded across sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, education and health. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
