Paul Ssemwogerere the Archbishop of Kampala, has appreciated Kabaka Ronald Mutebi for his “Tubeere Balamu” (Let’s Live) community outreach program, which provides healthcare services to his people.

 

 Paul Ssemwogerere the Archbishop of Kampala, has appreciated Kabaka Ronald Mutebi for his “Tubeere Balamu” (Let’s Live) community outreach program, which provides healthcare services to his people. During a visit to St. Joseph Parish in Kyengera for the outreach, the Archbishop highlighted the critical need for accessible healthcare across Uganda.

Ssemwogerere appreciated the platform the Kabaka has created to aid his people access health services. Good health is essential. Through my work and age, I have seen firsthand the need for healthcare in the country, as many people require free access to medical services,” .

While recognizing the government's responsibility to provide free healthcare, the Archbishop commended the Kabaka for stepping in to meet his people's immediate health needs. He called on Parliament and Cabinet to prioritize universal healthcare and ensure the availability of sufficient health facilities throughout the country.

“The reason many people turn to churches and mosques for divine healing is that they cannot afford hospital visits, even for minor illnesses. While seeking spiritual healing isn’t wrong, there should be affordable or free healthcare services for all Ugandans,” he added.

The Archbishop urged for a larger budget allocation to the Ministry of Health, emphasizing the state's duty to ensure the health of its citizens. He also appealed to private healthcare providers to lower their prices and avoid practices such as selling expired medicines or hiring unqualified staff.

The “Tubeere Balamu” campaign, primarily sponsored by Diamond Trust Bank, took place at St. Joseph’s Parish in Kyengera and attracted thousands of people seeking medical treatment.

Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, the Second Deputy Katikkiro of Buganda and representative of the Kabaka, expressed gratitude for the support received for the outreach, which began in Buddu, Masaka, last November. He encouraged participants to follow medical advice and practice good hygiene.

“This outreach started in November in Buddu Masaka, and many people benefited from it. We appreciate all the medical professionals involved and the support we’ve received in our efforts to improve health. We advise our people to follow the instructions of the medical teams and maintain cleanliness,” he said.

Edward Kaggwa Ndagala, head of the Kabaka Foundation, explained that the foundation, established in 1996, serves as the Kabaka’s vehicle for delivering services in health, education, and community development. He pointed to past successful health campaigns, such as the Hepatitis B immunization drive and blood donation efforts, which led to a significant increase in blood donations in Uganda. The current “Tubeere Balamu” campaign aims to recruit 300,000 new blood donors.

“We launched a blood donation campaign with the Red Cross and Uganda Blood Bank. At the start, there were about 20,000 regular donors, but by the end of the campaign, the number had risen to 170,000. This year, we are targeting 300,000 new blood donors to help alleviate the blood shortage in Uganda,” he said.

“As a bank, we are committed to serving the people. Healthy people can work and utilize our banking services, and we encourage everyone to seek professional medical care, work hard, and take advantage of our services,” he said.