By KT Reporter
A Scottish national has donated 2.5 billion shillings for the construction of a facility at Nakasongola Health Center IV.
Every month, at least 200 mothers deliver at Nakasongola Health Center IV in Nakasongola District but due to limited space and beds, many are discharged hours later to give way for others. The facility has only 16 maternity beds.
Doctor Agaba Byamukama, the Nakasongola District Health Officer, said that due to increased demand for maternal services, the district approached William Whyte, a Scottish fisherman who had earlier set up other projects to help them in constructing a maternity ward.
William Whyte had set up a farm, provided fresh drinking water for local communities, and helped to ship two scanners for pregnant women in Nakasongola in 2021.
Whyte, now 79 years old, is a retired boat skipper in Fraserburgh, the biggest shellfish port in Scotland and through his Oor Bairns Charitable Trust, he makes money by recycling steel, scrap metal and old fishing nets.
Agaba said that Whyte agreed to fund the construction of the modern complex to host the maternity ward and donated 2.5 billion shillings out of his savings in October 2024 to the district to execute the project.
Agaba said that construction of the 42 maternity bed ward at Nakasongola Health Center IV is ongoing and will be completed before the end of the year.
He said that upon completion of the ward, congestion will be no more, and the mothers will deliver in a safe environment.
Livingstone Sseruyange, the Managing Director of Linear Engineering Services Limited, the company that was contracted to construct the complex, said the construction works are on course and will be completed in September 2025.
The modern complex will comprise the maternity ward, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric ward, two theatres, Isolation, High Dependency Unit, and a doctor’s room, among others.
Noah Mutebi, the Nakasongola County Member of Parliament and Nakasongola District Woman Member of Parliament Victoria Zawedde hailed Whyte for his generous contribution towards the improvement of the lives of mothers in the area.
However, the MP Mutebi asked the government to equip the units in the ward after completion, because the donation was only for the construction of the complex.
On Tuesday, Lilian Aber, the Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Refugee, visited the ongoing construction works and praised Whyte for the support towards the health sector.
Aber said that the call for equipping the facility was justifiable and promised to bring the matter to the attention of the Minister of Health and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
On his projects in Uganda and other countries, Whyte said earlier, “Every penny I get from recycling the nets goes to help people. The fishing has been good to me, I’m trying to help people not so fortunate as myself.”
Whyte has also raised cash by recycling old nets and used them to purchase solar panels and pumps to provide fresh running water in Nakasongola.
Places where fresh water pumps were installed include Hope Village in Nakasongola area, Bethel High School in the same area and The Oor Bairns farm nearby.
The retired Fraserburgh skipper formed his charity after helping out at an orphanage in Uganda with the Irish Charity New Beginnings, when he forged links with the high school next door-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
