Africa-Press – Uganda. The Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC), Pearl Bank, and Rotary Uganda have partnered with the Buganda Kingdom to support a fundraising drive aimed at raising $4 million (approximately Shs15.2 billion) for Uganda’s first specialized bone marrow transplant centre.
On Wednesday, officials from the three institutions paid a courtesy visit to the Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, at Bulange in Mengo.
Speaking during the meeting, Mayiga praised the initiative led by JCRC, Pearl Bank, and Rotary Uganda, noting its importance in addressing major health challenges.
“In many parts of Buganda, before awareness campaigns on sickle cell disease, there was a belief that those suffering from it came from cursed families. We have worked to educate communities that this is not true,” Mayiga said.He acknowledged that sickle cell disease remains a significant challenge in Buganda and across Uganda.
“The efforts must continue, especially now that advancements in science—such as bone marrow transplants—offer a cure. We must rely on science to promote health. Our vision as a kingdom is to regain the glory we sing about, and this cannot happen unless we prioritize health,” he added.
Mayiga affirmed Buganda Kingdom’s readiness to collaborate with JCRC, Pearl Bank, and Rotary Uganda in mobilizing resources for the project.
The JCRC Executive Director, Cissy Kityo, revealed that the facility will incorporate state-of-the-art technology to treat sickle cell disease and position Uganda as a regional hub for specialized medical care in East Africa.
She noted that substantial groundwork has already been completed, but an additional $4 million is needed to finalize the facility and make it operational.
“Sickle cell disease is a major health burden in Uganda. While the country is widely recognized for its success in HIV treatment, sickle cell is also a critical issue. Uganda ranks fourth in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of sickle cell prevalence,” Dr. Kityo said.
She added that over 20,000 children are born with sickle cell disease in Uganda each year, yet bone marrow transplant—the only known cure—is not currently available in the country.
“Sickle cell can be cured through advanced treatment such as bone marrow transplant, which replaces defective blood cells. Although this procedure has been available globally for over 40 years, Uganda lacks the facility to offer it locally. That is why we need funding to operationalize this centre,” she explained.
Recently, Pearl Bank and JCRC announced a four-year strategic partnership to establish the specialized facility, with the bank committing Shs200 million toward the initiative.
During the event in Mengo, Pearl Bank’s Managing Director, Julius Kakeeto, emphasized that the partnership goes beyond philanthropy and aligns with Uganda’s national development agenda.
“This initiative supports Uganda’s ATMS Strategy—Agro-Industrialization, Tourism, Minerals, and Science, Technology & Innovation—which is key to driving ten-fold economic growth. By investing in advanced healthcare infrastructure, we are strengthening the science and innovation pillar,” Kakeeto said.
He added that the project also contributes to the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which aims to improve the quality of life for all Ugandans.
“Localizing bone marrow transplant services will reduce the financial burden on patients who currently seek treatment abroad, while improving access to life-saving care,” he noted.
Geoffrey Martin Kitakule, Governor of Rotary District 9213, also commended JCRC for the initiative and called for collective efforts to ensure its success.
“We want a comprehensive approach to treating sickle cell disease in Uganda. We cannot achieve this alone—it requires unity. We appeal to Buganda Kingdom to use its influence to support the fundraising drive so that patients can receive treatment locally instead of traveling abroad,” Kitakule said.
