Charlotte Kainerugaba, wife of Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has partnered with the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) and the Ministry of Health to launch a month-long nationwide blood donation campaign aimed at easing blood shortages and helping save mothers during childbirth.
The campaign will send organisers across the country to mobilise Ugandans to donate blood and boost the national supply, with particular focus on ensuring pregnant women and new mothers have access to blood when they need it. Blood shortages remain a persistent problem for health facilities, affecting not only mothers giving birth but also patients with conditions like leukaemia and sickle cell disease who depend on transfusions.
The official launch took place at Kololo Grounds, where Charlotte toured the donation area and met with volunteer donors, including members of the Special Forces Command, other security personnel, and PLU members led by Minister of State for Local Government Balaam Barugahara.
Speaking at the event, Kainerugaba pointed to excessive blood loss as a major cause of maternal deaths during childbirth and called on Ugandans to donate, saying each donation has the potential to save a life.
Dr Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, said work is underway to establish and strengthen blood banks across the country so facilities can respond more quickly to patients in need of transfusions — particularly mothers in labor. Dr Dorothy Kyeyune Byabazaire, head of Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, urged Ugandans to treat blood donation as an ongoing responsibility given persistently high demand.
Barugahara pledged to help mobilise donors during his engagements around the country. PLU members who spoke about the initiative said they welcomed it and committed to encouraging wider participation.
The campaign is set to run for one month, with organisers traveling to different regions of Uganda to encourage participation.
