Stanbic Bank Uganda has donated maternal health equipment worth Shs44 million to Rukoki Hospital in Kasese District, a contribution that hospital management says has resolved nearly 90 percent of the challenges facing the facility’s maternity ward.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the hospital on Friday, Dr Edward Wefula, the facility’s in-charge, described the donation as “a lifeline that has restored dignity and efficiency to maternal care services at Rukoki.”
The consignment included four oxygen concentrators, ten modern maternity beds with accessories, two blood pressure machines, and 200 Mama Kits. Dr Wefula said the supplies would enable the hospital to provide safer deliveries, enhance neonatal care, and improve hygiene standards for both mothers and newborns.
“This donation has addressed most of the long-standing challenges we have faced in the maternity ward,” Dr Wefula noted.
“We now have the critical tools required to save lives and deliver babies in a safer environment. I can assure our community that we are now better equipped to serve them.”
The donation is part of a nationwide maternal health drive worth Shs300 million that Stanbic Bank is implementing in partnership with the Ministry of Health.
The initiative was officially launched last week by Dr Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, with the aim of supporting under-resourced health facilities across Uganda to improve maternal and child health services.
Flagging off the programme, Dr Atwine commended Stanbic Bank’s ongoing support, describing it as a vital contribution to national health efforts. She said the government cannot work in isolation and called for continued partnerships with private sector players to strengthen public healthcare.
“A healthy Uganda cannot be built by government alone,” Dr Atwine said. “Partnerships like this one are critical if we are to ensure no mother dies while giving life. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the government of Uganda, I want to thank Stanbic Bank for standing with Ugandans and fulfilling their commitment to social impact.”
Rukoki Hospital, a government facility previously operating as a Health Centre IV, was officially upgraded to hospital status in July 2025 at the start of the current financial year. Despite the upgrade, it continues to face overwhelming pressure due to a high patient load and a large catchment population.
The hospital delivers between 200 and 300 babies every month and has struggled with inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of medical equipment, forcing staff to improvise with makeshift solutions.
During the ceremony, Stanbic Bank’s Head of Coverage, Mr Sam Bulenzi, commended the resilience of the hospital’s staff.
He made reference to the fire that gutted part of the facility in June 2021, destroying equipment worth millions of shillings.
He said the medical team’s ability to continue saving lives despite such adversity inspired the bank’s decision to support them.
“We all remember the tragedy that struck this facility in 2021,” Bulenzi said. “But out of that adversity rose a renewed sense of purpose. Your resilience and commitment to saving lives is what inspires us to be here today.”
He explained that the donation reflects Stanbic Bank’s broader purpose of supporting national development, noting that the bank’s slogan, “Uganda is our home, we drive her growth,” extends beyond banking services to include support for critical sectors such as health, education, and environmental stewardship.
Rukoki Hospital continues to serve as a key referral facility for the greater Rwenzori region and regularly receives overflow cases from surrounding health centres and Kilembe Hospital, which has suffered repeated flood damage in recent years. The growing burden on the hospital has intensified the need for investment in maternal and child health services.
Kasese Municipality Member of Parliament, Hon. Kambale Frigo, who attended the event, expressed gratitude for the donation and said it would significantly improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in the region.
Also present was Stanbic Bank’s Head of Distribution, Ms Sylvia Atuhaire, who said the donation coincides with the bank’s annual “October Love Month,” a community outreach campaign held each October in celebration of Uganda’s Independence and Global Customer Service Month.
Uganda has made notable progress in maternal health in recent years. According to Ministry of Health data, the country’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) declined to 189 per 100,000 live births in 2022, down from 336 in 2016—a 44 percent reduction.
However, challenges persist, including unequal access to services, low completion rates for antenatal care, and logistical issues such as delayed deliveries of medical supplies. Leading causes of maternal mortality remain obstetric hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, and infections.
Stanbic Bank said it has already donated medical equipment to more than ten health centres across Uganda this year and intends to reach at least nine additional facilities before the end of October.
