The Rotary Club of the University District has supported the development of the Bukobero Community Health Centre III Bududa District of the Mt. Elgon highlands since 2020, when it provided its first grant for a community engagement process. Since then, along with private donor support, UDRC has remained engaged and now the health center is almost completed! But they have not done this alone. More than 55 Rotary clubs and five districts have contributed, demonstrating Rotary’s commitment to collaboration.
The health center is a locally driven health facility and was born out of necessity. For years, residents of the area faced significant barriers to care, including long travel distances, difficult terrain, and limited transportation. These challenges often delayed or prevented treatment, particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, young children, and the elderly. In response, the community mobilized in 2018 to purchase land and begin construction of their own health facility. Since then, local contributions—ranging from labor and materials to governance through the Bukobero NGO—have been central to the project’s progress.
Designed as a Health Centre III under Uganda’s Ministry of Health system, the facility will provide outpatient services to approximately 28,000 people in its immediate catchment area. These services include maternal and child healthcare, basic laboratory diagnostics, and preventive services such as immunizations and health education. It will also be the only facility in the entire Bududa District of approximately 100,000 people offering obstetric ultrasound. Once operational, it is expected to significantly reduce travel burdens and enable earlier diagnosis and treatment of high risk pregnancies and of common illnesses, including malaria, respiratory infections, and diarrheal diseases.
The three story structure will meet community needs in several ways. The first floor will house core clinical services, including consultation rooms, a maternity unit, and a laboratory. The second floor is reserved for future expansion, while the third floor serves as a multipurpose space for community meetings, vaccination campaigns, staff training, and educational activities.
Beyond healthcare delivery, the center represents a broader shift in community well-being. It is expected to promote earlier care-seeking behavior, improve maternal and child health outcomes, and strengthen disease prevention. Just as important, it fosters a strong sense of ownership and pride. Built by the community and supported by partners, the Bukobero Community Health Centre III stands as a sustainable, community-centered investment—bringing essential care closer to home and laying the foundation for a healthier future.
For more information or to help support the facility, please contact Sheila Hosner, breadpudding@aol.com.
