The Rotary Club of Kigo Seven Lakes Golf has launched a charitable initiative through a fundraising golf tournament aimed at equipping the Mama Kariisa Maternity Ward in Ruhaama, Ntungamo District.
Speaking at the event, Club President Kin Kariisa described the maternity facility as both a personal tribute to his late mother and a vital healthcare intervention for expectant mothers in the region.
“This ward is a symbol of remembering my mother, but also of reducing maternal mortality rates,” said Kariisa. “I was born in this very hospital 48 years ago, and it is only fitting that I give back by ensuring that mothers today have the machines and services they need to deliver safely.”
Uganda continues to grapple with one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in Africa. While there has been notable progress in recent years — with the maternal mortality rate declining from 336 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2016 to 189 in 2022, according to the World Health Organization and Uganda’s Ministry of Health — rural communities still face significant gaps in care.
The golf fundraiser attracted wide support from business leaders, philanthropists, and members of the Rotary fraternity, all uniting behind a shared goal to improve maternal health outcomes in Ntungamo.
The Mama Kariisa Maternity Ward is nearing completion and is expected to be fully operational by November. The state-of-the-art facility aims to address long-standing issues such as overcrowding, lack of equipment, and inadequate maternal services in the region.
Rotary officials have hailed the initiative as a timely and transformative step toward reducing maternal and infant mortality in rural Uganda, especially in areas where healthcare infrastructure remains critically underdeveloped.