Hundreds of runners on Sunday converged at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya for the Nsambya Prematurity Awareness Run, a charity event aimed at raising funds to purchase life-saving equipment for premature babies.
Uganda continues to face a 14 percent preterm birth rate, one of the highest in the region, with prematurity remaining the leading cause of neonatal deaths—largely due to limited access to specialised care in health facilities.
The community-driven run supported the expansion of Nsambya Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which provides critical support for newborns born too soon or too small. Hospital leaders noted that growing patient numbers and outdated equipment have stretched the current unit beyond capacity.
Sunday’s run coincided with Uganda’s commemoration of World Prematurity Day, joining a global movement that raises awareness about the 15 million babies born prematurely each year and the urgent need for improved neonatal care systems.
According to organisers, the proceeds from the event will go directly toward purchasing incubators, CPAP machines, and other neonatal support technologies essential for boosting survival rates.
Participants—from corporate teams to fitness groups and families—said the turnout reflected a growing understanding of the risks faced by premature babies and the need for collective action.
Health advocates at the event called for sustained investment in neonatal units across the country, noting that community-led initiatives like the Nsambya run help close the gap in access to quality care.
As Uganda continues to grapple with high preterm birth rates, organisers hope the run will become an annual event that strengthens the country’s neonatal care response and ensures more premature babies get a fighting chance at life.
