MTN Uganda has concluded its 2026 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign by strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare at Karita Health Centre IV in Amudat District, bringing critical support to one of Uganda’s most remote and underserved communities.
The technology company and its partners delivered medical equipment, solar support, ICT equipment, bicycles, and smartphones for Village Health Teams, along with digital health training and community health interventions valued at over Shs 600 million.
Karita was the final stop in the nationwide campaign, following similar interventions at Kibiito Health Centre IV in Bunyangabu, Maddu Health Centre IV in Gomba and Kiyunga Health Centre IV in Luuka District. The 2026 campaign, held under the theme “Expand Equitable Health for Every Community”, was postponed from June to August following the Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. This year it focused on maternal and newborn health. Karita Health Centre IV serves more than 40,000 people from Amudat and neighbouring districts, including communities across the Kenyan border.
Uganda has reduced its maternal mortality ratio from 336 to 189 deaths per 100,000 live births in a decade, and neonatal mortality from 27 to 22 deaths per 1,000 live births. Both remain above the Sustainable Development Goals targets of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 and 12 neonatal deaths per 1,000 by 2030. At Karita, MTN and partners conducted medical screenings, patient registration, health education, blood donation, and trained health workers in the Electronic Medical Records Information System.
Village Health Teams received digital skills training, while MTN MoMo carried out financial literacy engagements. Dennis Kakonge, General Manager Corporate Services at MTN MoMo Uganda Ltd, said the campaign is part of MTN’s 19-year tradition of stepping away from offices to listen and work with communities.
The state minister for Karamoja Affairs Esther Anyakun lauded the partners and appealed to the Ministry of Health to further equip facilities that are far away from major hospitals.
Jane Francis Achaam, Assistant Commissioner for Midwifery Services at the Ministry of Health, said: “It is a woman’s right to access quality care and skilled birth attendants, regardless of where she lives. Thank you for giving us delivery beds, trolleys and all the equipment we need.”
The campaign was implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Amudat District, ATC Uganda, Stanbic Bank, Buffalo Bicycles, ATTA Breastmilk, Roofings Group, Mengo Hospital, CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital, Uganda Red Cross Society, Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, UNFPA, Maendeleo Foundation, Zuri Health, MTN MoMo, Clinic Pesa and Exquisite Solutions-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
