Kamwokya residents on Saturday witnessed a renewed wave of community solidarity as three Rotary clubs joined forces to deliver critical health services at Treasure Life Youth Centre (TLC).
The medical camp, now an annual tradition, went beyond treatment — it showcased how partnerships can transform health outcomes in Kampala’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.
Unlike previous outreaches that focused mainly on treatment, this year’s event placed strong emphasis on strengthening local health systems.
The highlight was the donation of a new infant incubator to Kamwokya Christian Caring Community Health Centre (KCCC), marking a significant boost to maternal and neonatal care.
District Governor Geoffrey Martin Kitakule, who presided over the camp, said the initiative reflects Rotary’s commitment to investing in long-term community solutions.
“We’re here at this center, which was built help what we’ve come here as Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Kitante, Kampala City, Club of Kyaddondo, to do a health camp. And this health camp is going to benefit over 1000 people to make a difference.”
He noted that continued support to KCCC has already expanded the facility’s capacity.
“When we started helping this health center in this community, it was able to handle one birth at a time, but now it’s able to handle six or seven births at a time, and this incubator will go a long way to help make sure that the mothers whose kids have complications, they are able to be treated well,” he said.
Kitakule also credited the success of the outreach to the Rotary spirit of collective action.
“We thank our partners over 10 of them and we know very well that when we make a difference in society, we change it, and as we see cares and indeed ‘Rotary Eyamba’.”
For most of the day, volunteer doctors screened residents for high-risk non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes — conditions known to silently threaten lives in urban informal settlements.
Maximilia Byenky, the Rotary Club of Kitante president explained that the camp was intentionally designed to address health gaps most visible in densely populated areas like Kamwokya.
“Generally, we are offering services including the general check-up dental services eye services blood donation, HIV testing and counselling, hepatitis B, sickle cell and many lab services,” she said.
She added that the collaboration allowed the clubs to serve at a much greater scale than they could individually.
“Because we are three different Rotary Clubs, we expect about 800 to 1,000 patients when you put resources together you think better and you give more.”
Byenkya said the decision to work repeatedly in Kamwokya stems from both its proximity and its urgent health needs.
“Kamwokya is a ghetto… and there are so many people that lack services… the people are poor, they do not have money and they need these services.”
The Rotary Club of Kyaddondo president, Stella Arwako, praised the unity demonstrated by the three clubs and their partners.
“This collaboration effort would serve more people. I thank the locals for tuning up for this medical camp.”
Her comments reflect a growing strategy within Rotary — pooling resources to deliver deeper, longer-lasting impact.
More than ten institutions supported the camp, including C-care, Reproductive Health Uganda, NBS, Afro Mobile, National Lab, Kamwokya Christian Caring Community, Housing Finance Bank, Mengo Blood Bank, IDI, Square and HARRIS.
