The State Minister for Transport and Bugangaizi West Member of Parliament, Fred Byamukama, together with residents of Kikoora Sub-county in Kakumiro District, has commissioned and handed over a newly constructed Health Centre III valued at Shs89 million to the district authorities.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Byamukama said the project was born out of a community-driven effort after residents identified a major gap in healthcare service delivery and decided to mobilise resources so that government could later build on their initiative.
Kikoora Sub-county, one of the recently created administrative units in Kakumiro District, previously had no Health Centre III despite government policy requiring each sub-county to have one.
As a result, residents were forced to walk long distances to access services at Kakindo Health Centre IV.
In response, community leaders mobilised residents to contribute towards constructing a health facility at a local playground, aimed at bringing essential services closer to the people.
Byamukama said each household initially contributed Shs3,000 towards the project before he stepped in to fully fund the construction using his personal resources, bringing the total investment to Shs89 million.
“I realised they were doing the right thing. Today we are handing over this health centre to government, and staff have already been posted here from Kikwaya and Kakindo health centres. This is a great milestone, but I appeal to the people to prioritise prevention rather than cure,” Byamukama said.
He added that leaders in Kakumiro District have already lobbied and secured Shs400 million to construct a maternity ward at the facility, with funds already deposited on the district account.
“This shows how serious we are. Our mothers will no longer have to trek long distances to deliver,” he said.
Kikoora Sub-county Chairperson Peter Ndyahebwa welcomed the development, saying the new Health Centre III will significantly improve access to healthcare services in the area.
“Kikoora has grown. We have electricity and water, but we did not have a health centre. This facility will greatly improve service delivery. We, however, appeal for timely drug supplies and adequate staffing,” Ndyahebwa said.
District officials said the health centre will play a critical role in improving primary healthcare, particularly for vulnerable groups, as Kakumiro continues to expand administratively and demographically.
