The Katikkiro of Buganda, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, has commended the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC), Pearl Bank and Rotary Uganda for spearheading a fundraising drive to raise USD 4 million for the construction of Uganda’s first Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) facility.
The fundraising campaign has been activated, with payments set to be collected through a Pearl Bank account, alongside an online payment link hosted on the JCRC website to facilitate contributions.
JCRC, together with its partners, has embarked on a journey to establish the country’s first BMT facility, offering hope to thousands of Ugandans battling sickle cell disease, leukemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders that have long required treatment abroad.
Once completed in Lubowa, the facility will make Uganda home to one of only two such centres in East Africa, alongside another in Kenya.
Pearl Bank has stepped in as the financial partner, committing UGX 200 million towards the initiative. The bank will also support multiple donation channels, including mobile money, Visa and Mastercard payments, QR codes and direct bank deposits.
Rotary International is playing a leading role in the campaign, with District Governors Geoffrey Martin Kitakule and Christine Kyeyune Kawooya, as well as Rotary International Director Elect Emmanuel Katongole, spearheading the drive.
The initiative has drawn the attention of the Buganda Kingdom, with Mayiga, known for his advocacy in health and education, applauding the collaboration.
He commended JCRC, Pearl Bank and Rotary for “joining forces to establish a facility that will greatly advance healthcare in Uganda.”
JCRC Executive Director Dr. Cissy Kityo said the facility will be equipped with state of the art technology to treat sickle cell disease, which affects many families in the central region and across the country.
She added that the centre will also position Uganda as a hub for specialised care in East Africa, noting that groundwork and investments have already been made, but “there is a need to raise the remaining $4 million” to complete the facility and commence treatment.
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Pearl Bank Managing Director Julius Kakeeto described the partnership as both philanthropic and strategic.
He said the initiative aligns with Uganda’s ATMS Strategy, which focuses on Agro Industrialisation, Tourism, Minerals, and Science and Technology Innovation.
“Our support for the JCRC BMT Centre directly strengthens this pillar by advancing medical research, expanding specialised healthcare infrastructure, and building local capacity,” Kakeeto said.
He added that the project also contributes to the Fourth National Development Plan, which aims to improve socio economic transformation and quality of life.
Kakeeto noted that localising BMT services will reduce the financial burden on patients and the national healthcare system, while improving public health outcomes, especially for vulnerable populations.
Pearl Bank said its Corporate Social Investment initiatives are guided by Scale, Impact and Sustainability (SIS), implemented through pillars including enterprise development, health, education, environment and humanitarian support.
The bank added that its support to JCRC reflects its commitment to sustainable initiatives and its broader purpose of fostering prosperity for Ugandans through financial inclusion and entrepreneurship.
As part of its strategic repositioning, the bank transitioned from PostBank Uganda to Pearl Bank, a move it says is aimed at leveraging opportunities within Uganda and across the region while extending tailored financial solutions to support growth and prosperity.
