A major boost has been registered in the fight against sickle cell disease in Kayunga District following the commissioning of a Shs500 million Sickle Cell Clinic and Training Centre at Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital, even as health workers warn that about 3 percent of newborns in the area are being born with the condition.
The facility was constructed by Dar Al Barr Society in partnership with the Islamic Centre for Education – Uganda, with the aim of improving diagnosis, treatment, care, and training on sickle cell disease.
It comes at a time when Uganda is scaling up national interventions, including mandatory newborn screening for sickle cell disease introduced by the Ministry of Health in 2026, as part of efforts to ensure every child’s sickle cell status is known early and linked to care.
Uganda has one of the highest sickle cell burdens globally, with estimates suggesting tens of thousands of babies are born with the disease annually, many of whom previously went undiagnosed until severe illness or death.
The Ministry of Health has also strengthened national systems in recent years through updated patient registers, clinical tools, and education materials aimed at improving early detection and long-term management of the condition.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Dr Sophie Nakitto, a paediatrician at the hospital, said sickle cell disease remains a significant public health challenge in Kayunga District and across Uganda.
She revealed that at least 3 percent of newborn babies at Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital are born with sickle cell disease, largely due to limited public awareness and inadequate knowledge about genetic screening among communities.
She emphasized the need for intensified community sensitisation campaigns to encourage early testing, genetic counselling, and informed marriage and family planning decisions, noting that prevention remains a critical pillar in reducing new infections.
“We continue to receive many cases of sickle cell disease, and public awareness remains critical. This new facility will help us provide better care, treatment, counselling, and training for health workers and caregivers,” she said.
Her remarks reflect broader national calls by health authorities for couples to know their genetic status before starting families.
Over the past few years, the Ministry of Health has consistently encouraged prospective couples to undergo sickle cell testing and genetic counselling, warning that high-risk combinations such as AS–AS unions significantly increase the likelihood of children being born with the disease.
While proposals have been discussed to formalise premarital testing as a requirement, implementation remains largely in the form of public health guidance rather than a fully enforceable national law.
The Country Coordinator of the project, Hajj Yusuf Jjemba, said the newly commissioned clinic is among several health and education projects supported by the organisation across Uganda.
He pledged continued support to Kayunga’s health sector, including the provision of essential medicines and the establishment of a blood bank to address the persistent shortage of safe blood required by sickle cell patients.
“The Shs500 million investment demonstrates our commitment to improving healthcare services. We are ready to provide additional support, including medicines and a proposed blood bank, to strengthen healthcare delivery in Kayunga District,” Jjemba said.
Meanwhile, Dr Isaac Tumusiime, head of the hospital’s sickle cell clinic, disclosed that the facility is currently providing care and treatment to 1,148 registered sickle cell patients.
He said the new clinic and training centre will enhance patient management, improve access to specialised care, and strengthen capacity building among health workers.
Health experts note that Uganda’s approach to sickle cell disease has increasingly shifted toward prevention and early detection, including nationwide newborn screening and expanded public education campaigns.
These efforts are intended to complement treatment services by reducing late diagnosis, preventable complications, and childhood mortality.
Health experts say Uganda remains one of the countries with a high burden of sickle cell disease, making investments in specialised treatment facilities, blood banking services, and community awareness essential in reducing illness and preventable deaths associated with the condition.
The launch of the new clinic is expected to improve the quality of life of hundreds of patients in Kayunga and neighbouring districts while serving as a regional centre for sickle cell care, training, and research.