Africa-Press – Uganda. Leaders in Ntungamo District have commended the Kariisa family for donating a newly constructed eight-bed maternity ward at Rubaare Health Center IV.
The facility, built in memory of the family’s late mother Hasiinah Kariisa, marks a significant improvement from the previously deplorable state of maternal services at the health center.
The project was spearheaded by Kin Kariisa, CEO of Next Media Group, who mobilized resources to address the infrastructure gap. The Rotary Club of Kigo Seven Lakes supported the initiative by providing critical medical equipment, including incubators and oxygen cylinders.
“We were passing through Rubaare when the Ntungamo District Kadhi, Sheikh Kashangirwe, asked me to visit where I was born,” Kariisa said.
“My children wondered if we were in the right place because of its deplorable state. I decided I had to do something. I sent engineers to assess the situation, and this is the outcome,” he added.
While celebrating the new facility, local leaders emphasized that infrastructure alone is not sufficient. Naume Kabasharira, the Member of Parliament for Rushenyi County, called on the government to complement the initiative by constructing a fully functional theatre at the health center.
“To broaden service delivery and ensure we can handle emergencies on-site, the government must now prioritize the construction of a theatre,” Kabasharira said during the commissioning ceremony.
The Ntungamo District Health Officer, Bahati Amon, underscored the urgency of this request, noting that the facility handles over 1,400 deliveries annually.“A dedicated theatre would significantly reduce the need for risky referrals, especially in cases of obstructed labour and other complications,” he said.
The Next Media Foundation and the Mama Kariisa Endowment Fund have pledged long-term support for the facility. Dr. Dorothy Kyeyune, Chairperson of the Next Media Foundation, assured stakeholders of continued follow-up on commitments.
“We will ensure consistent follow-up so that promises made by both government and well-wishers are fulfilled. Maintaining this facility is critical for its beneficiaries,” Kyeyune said.
Kariisa expressed gratitude to Ntungamo leaders for their guidance, as well as to his family and friends—including Salim Saleh—for their support. He described the project as a tribute to his mother’s legacy of care.
“I am grateful to the leaders of Ntungamo for their guidance and to my family members for supporting this initiative,” he said.
Representing the Ministry of Health Uganda, State Minister for General Duties Hanifa Kawooya delivered a message from Jane Ruth Aceng, commending the initiative and pledging government support.
“I commend the Kaliisa family and the Rotary Club of Kigo Seven Lakes for this noble gesture. Government is committed to supporting this facility and will prioritize the establishment of a theatre to complement the existing services,” Kawooya said.
