The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has urged men to abandon irresponsible behavior and take an active role in addressing family health challenges, particularly in situations involving serious medical conditions.
Mayiga made the remarks at the Ettendo Worship Concert, a fundraising event organized by the Healthy Heart Foundation to support children born with congenital heart defects held at Hotel Africana in Kyaddondo on Friday evening.
Mayiga criticized the tendency among some men to avoid responsibility, especially when faced with health-related challenges within their families.
“Men should stop being irresponsible. Many men want to be cared for—they expect attention, comfort, and service at home. They raise their voices, complain, and demand, but when it comes to serious responsibilities, especially those involving challenges, they leave everything to women,” he said.
Mayiga further condemned the behavior of men who abandon women after pregnancy complications arise, particularly when children are born with medical conditions such as heart defects. According to him, some men go as far as denying responsibility by claiming such conditions do not exist in their family lineage.
Mayiga emphasized that women overwhelmingly bear the burden of caregiving in such situations, especially in matters of medical care. He urged men to be courageous, responsible, and present—standing with their families in both good and difficult times, including accompanying their spouses to hospitals regardless of circumstances.
“Let us prioritize health and stop being negligent. When challenges arise in families, we must support our wives and stand with them, especially in matters of health. Without good health, Buganda cannot rise again, and Uganda cannot achieve meaningful progress. Good health is a responsibility for all of us,” he said.
During the event, attendees were shown video testimonies highlighting children who had received life-saving heart surgeries and were now recovering well. The presentations also revealed that, in most cases, mothers are the primary caregivers managing the children’s recovery and long-term care.
Mayiga commended the head of the Healthy Heart Foundation, Ritah Namyalo Waggwa and her husband Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, along with their partners and collaborators, for their dedication, compassion, and commitment to supporting vulnerable children through this initiative. He underscored that true faith is demonstrated through actions rather than words.
“Many people say ‘Praise the Lord’ and ‘God is good,’ but those words mean little if one cannot even help a neighbor in need. Actions reveal what is truly in a person’s heart,” he said.
In her remarks, Namyalo, highlighted the significant challenges posed by congenital heart disease in Uganda. She noted that public awareness remains low, while access to treatment is limited due to the high cost of medical care.
“In Uganda, about 16,000 children are born each year with heart defects. If you are fortunate to have children without such conditions, be grateful. The challenges faced by families dealing with this illness are immense. Imagine a mother who must administer medication to a child every hour, day and night—sleep becomes a luxury,” she said.
Namyalo further revealed that through partnerships with the Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Island, the Indian Association of Uganda, and the Rotary Club of Chennai, the foundation has, over the past two years, facilitated treatment for 41 children who were taken to India for corrective heart surgery.
However, she disclosed that three of these children later passed away due to inadequate post-operative care after returning home. This challenge directly inspired the creation of the Ettendo Worship Concert, aimed at raising funds to support families with post-surgery care, including medication, nutrition, and follow-up treatment.
Namyalo expressed gratitude to all individuals and organizations that have supported the initiative. She reported that the inaugural Shs 32 million , which helped provide food, medical care, and ongoing treatment for affected children. She expressed optimism that this year’s effort would enable the foundation to support up to 100 children in accessing life-saving heart surgery.
The event attracted a diverse audience, including Buganda Kingdom officials, religious leaders, heads of institutions, and members of the public. It featured vibrant musical performances from renowned gospel artists and choirs, including Wilson Bugembe, Twina Herbert, Golden Gates Choir, Streams of Life, and Jehovah Shalom Acapella, among others.
Several supporters and contributors to the initiative were recognized and awarded in appreciation of their efforts toward improving the lives of children living with heart conditions.
