Instead of birthday presents, Clare Namakhula Magona asked her guests to give hope. On her 50th birthday last month, the London-based Ugandan philanthropist requested that well-wishers contribute to Rays of Hope Hospice in Jinja City.
Clare, daughter of the later Chrysostom and Anne Magona, had come all the way from London to her childhood district of Jinja, hosts guests at Jinja Sailing Club. Here, Rays of Hope Hospice, a specialised palliative care provider supporting cancer patients and their families, became a key part of her celebration.
The funds were collected via mobile money donations and on Thursday, March 12, the family handed over Shs26 million raised from her guests’ contributions to the hospice.
The donation was delivered by Clare’s mother, Anne Magona, accompanied by family friend Betty Naluwugge Lwanga.
“Clare wanted to mark her milestone by giving back,” Naluwugge said. “She consulted with us to find a cause that would make a real difference in her hometown. We agreed that supporting cancer patients in need of palliative care was the most meaningful way to celebrate.”
Clare’s father, Chrysostom Magona, a former civil servant who worked with Housing department, passed away last year, and the family said this initiative reflects her desire to honour her parents’ legacy by helping the community.
Among those who attended the celebrations were industrialist Kamlesh Madhvani, Justice Minister Norbert Mao, Auditor General Edward Akol, and lawyer Anne Abeja.
Ms Sylvia Nakami, executive director of Rays of Hope Hospice Jinja, praised the donation as a “timely intervention” that will help improve the lives of many families affected by cancer.
She said part of the funds will support education for 180 secondary school children whose parents are battling or have succumbed to the disease.
“We are currently supporting these children, but there is still a significant funding gap,” Nakami said. “We continue to appeal to well-wishers to support our work, which includes not only medical care but also counseling and social support programs.”
Ms Nakami said clinical screening was another area in urgent need of support.
“Our community outreach programs educate people about cancer prevention and the importance of early screening. The demand for these services is growing, and sometimes we are overwhelmed by the number of people seeking help,” she said.
Earlier this year, the hospice expanded its outreach to include prostate cancer screening, encouraging all men above 45 to come forward.
Ms Nakami said this expansion addresses critical but often overlooked health needs in the region.
Rays of Hope Hospice Jinja continues to provide palliative care across the Busoga sub-region and neighboring districts, including Kayunga, Buikwe, and Busia.
Over the years, the organisation has made a significant impact through medical care, counseling, community sensitisation, and social support programs aimed at improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their families.
Clare’s initiative demonstrates how a personal milestone can become a platform for meaningful social impact. By redirecting her 50th birthday celebration into a campaign for palliative care, she has not only helped raise funds but also increased awareness of the ongoing challenges facing cancer patients in Uganda.
