Stanbic Bank donation transforms maternal care at Rukoki Hospital

October 21, 2025 in Companies by Editor

Maternal care at Rukoki Hospital in Kasese District has received a major boost following the donation of medical equipment worth UGX 44 million by Stanbic Bank Uganda. Health officials say the intervention has resolved nearly 90 percent of the challenges that had crippled the hospital’s maternity services.

Dr. Edward Wefula, the facility’s in-charge, said the equipment had restored dignity and efficiency to maternal care at the hospital, which was recently upgraded from a Health Centre IV to hospital status.

“This donation has solved 90pc of the problems we have been grappling with in the maternity ward. We can now provide safer deliveries, better neonatal care, and improved hygiene for both mothers and babies,” Dr. Wefula said.

The donation included four oxygen concentrators, ten modern maternity beds with accessories, two blood pressure machines, and 200 Mama Kits, among other items.

The support is part of a broader UGX 300 million package that Stanbic Bank is distributing to select health facilities across Uganda under its “Love Month” community initiative, which coincides with Uganda’s Independence and Global Customer Service Month. The drive was officially launched by Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, to strengthen maternal and child health services nationwide.

Dr. Atwine said partnerships like Stanbic’s are helping to close gaps in the public health system.

“A healthy Uganda cannot be built by government alone. Partnerships like this are critical if we are to ensure no mother dies while giving life,” she said.

Rukoki Hospital serves a large catchment area across the Rwenzori region, with between 200 and 300 deliveries every month. Despite its new hospital status, staff say the facility continues to struggle with high patient volumes and limited infrastructure.

Stanbic Bank’s Head of Coverage, Sam Bulenzi, praised the resilience of Rukoki’s medical team, recalling the 2021 fire that destroyed much of the facility’s equipment.

“Your resilience and commitment to saving lives is what inspire us to be here today,” Bulenzi said, adding that the support aligns with the bank’s purpose, ‘Uganda is our home, we drive her growth.’

Local leaders welcomed the gesture, describing it as a timely intervention that will directly improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in the region.

Kasese Municipality MP Kambale Frigo commended the bank for standing with the community, while Sylvia Atuhaire, Stanbic’s Head of Distribution, said the donations reflect the bank’s long-term commitment to social investment.

Uganda has made progress in reducing maternal deaths, with the mortality ratio dropping to 189 per 100,000 live births in 2022 — a 44% decline since 2016. However, health experts say persistent inequalities and logistical gaps still hinder the delivery of quality maternal services, particularly in rural areas.