Mityana Diocese, under the leadership of Bishop James Bukomeko, has constructed a new Health Centre II in Kijwanganya village, Bukuya Subcounty, Kassanda District, in a move aimed at improving access to healthcare in one of the area’s most underserved communities.
Bishop Bukomeko explained that the facility will be open to all residents regardless of their religion.
“This health facility is for everyone. We will treat people without discrimination based on faith. Our mission is to save lives and promote good health,” Bukomeko said during the commissioning.
The bishop added that the facility would help address critical health challenges in Kassanda, especially in remote villages where medical services are scarce.
For years, residents of Kassanda District which has a population of about 364,000 people, 15 subcounties, 3 town councils, over 92 parishes, and more than 565 villages have faced severe health service gaps.
The main economic activities include farming, livestock rearing, and small-scale gold mining, particularly in Bukuya Subcounty, which is widely known for gold extraction.
However, residents in several rural areas, especially Bukuya, say they have suffered without access to proper medical care.
Kijwanganya village, like many others in the subcounty, has never had a nearby health facility. Vincent Byakatonda, a Village Health Team (VHT) member from Kyampisi parish, described the situation as dire.
“Pregnant women have been walking long distances to access care, often arriving late and exhausted. Many expectant mothers have lost their lives due to delayed medical attention. Even child immunization is affected because parents cannot manage the long journeys to health centres,” Byakatonda said, adding that clean water shortages also worsen health risks."
Asansiyo Ggayi, the Bukuya Subcounty Chairperson, confirmed that many women opt to give birth in the hands of traditional birth attendants due to the lack of facilities, a situation that has contributed to maternal deaths.
“We have buried too many young mothers because they could not reach a health facility in time. This new health centre gives us hope that such tragedies will reduce,” Ggayi noted.
Residents also revealed that preventable diseases remain common among children, with many not receiving treatment due to distance and lack of transport.
Bishop Bukomeko urged the community to take full advantage of the new facility and pledged the church’s continued support in improving social services in Kassanda.
“We want this health centre to be a place of healing, hope, and unity for all. Working together, we can improve the lives of our people,” Bukomeko noted.
With the new Health Centre II in place, residents of Kijwanganya and surrounding villages hope that maternal deaths, child mortality, and preventable illnesses will drastically reduce in the coming years.