The Omukama of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, His Majesty Dr Solomon Iguru, has dedicated this year’s proceeds from Empango Run to the procurement of an incubator for Kikuube District Health Centre 4.
An incubator is designed to provide a safe, controlled space for babies born prematurely to live while their vital organs develop.
The run that drew participants from different corners of the kingdom saw each buy an Empango Run Kit at Shs20,000 that made it possible to raise the money enough to procure the incubator.
Mr Peter Banura, the Kikuube District Chairman who are the beneficiaries of the initiative, disclosed that Kikuube Health Centre 4 loses at least 10 premature babies every month.
“We have been losing at least 30 children every three months in need of an incubator,” he revealed.
However, the chairman said with the newly procured incubator, the number of deaths for premature babies will reduce more given that recently, a well-wisher donated one to the health facility.
The Kikuube district woman parliamentary representative, Ms Florence Natumanya, said the kingdom initiative of mobilising resources to improve health services in the district is a great milestone given the current population explosion catapulted by Congolese refugees settling in Kyangwali camp, Kikuube.
The Member of Parliament for Buhaguzi East in Kikuube district, Mr Stephen Aseera, said the idea of rotating contributions from Empango Run to public health centres by and large in the kingdom is setting a platform of better services.
The legislator cautioned Kikuube health workers against extorting money from parents with premature babies in need of the incubator service; challenging them to use it properly to help save life.
One of the Empango Run sponsors, Mr Herbert Asiimwe, the Director of Golden Castle Hotel in Hoima city said the incubator is a challenge to health care givers to fully utilise it properly so as to help save and better the lives of premature babies.
He highlighted the need and importance of the spirit of unity that he said is a key driver for the development of the Bunyoro sub-region.
“If we Banyoro don’t support each other, we should not think that people will come from Europe to help us and we should continue advocating for unity in the Bunyoro region because if we are united together we can build our kingdom,” Mr Asiimwe said.
Adding: “This Empango Run 2023 was a good move because to develop our area, we need to have healthy people with healthy minds and next time let all non-governmental organisations always support such events for the betterment of our people.”
Speaking before flagging off the run to mark 29 years of the coronation anniversary of Omukama Iguru that falls on June 11, the Omuhikirwa (Prime Minister) of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Andrew Kirungi Byakutaaga Ateenyi, urged the people of Bunyoro to unite further for socio-economic transformation and be focused to cause holistic development in the kingdom.
