Uganda today marks a historic milestone in its healthcare advancement as the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC), in partnership with Rotary Clubs of Uganda and Pearl Bank Uganda, launches a nationwide resource-mobilization campaign to establish the country’s first Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Centre. Coordinated by the Rotary Club of Kampala Springs, this initiative seeks to bring lifesaving care closer to home for thousands of Ugandans affected by sickle cell disease, blood cancers, and other life-threatening conditions.
For decades, families requiring bone marrow transplantation have had no choice but to seek treatment abroad, often at a cost of UGX 150–250 million ($42,000–$60,000), excluding travel and accommodation. Many patients simply could not afford this, resulting in preventable deaths. The new BMT Centre will transform this reality by providing world-class, curative treatment within Uganda, significantly reducing costs and strengthening national healthcare capacity.
The Urgency
Uganda continues to face a severe burden of hematological diseases:
· 17,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease each year, and up to 80% die before their fifth birthday due to limited access to timely, specialized care
· One in seven Ugandans carries the sickle cell trait, reflecting a high population-level genetic risk
· More than 34,000 new cancer cases are recorded annually, resulting in over 22,000 deaths, with blood cancers particularly leukemia and lymphoma in children making a significant contribution to this mortality burden.
Bone marrow transplant is a proven, lifesaving intervention for sickle cell disease and a range of serious benign and malignant blood disorders, including leukemia and lymphoma.
In addition to its curative potential for these conditions, bone marrow transplant has also provided important scientific insights for HIV research. To date, nine individuals living with HIV who underwent bone marrow transplant for underlying blood cancers have achieved complete remission of both their cancer and HIV, offering critical clues that continue to inform global HIV CURE research.
Pearl Bank, which is the financial partner for the initiative has handed over a dummy cheques worth UGX 200 million as part of the 4 year strategic partnership towards the BMT facility.
Leadership Speaks
Guest of Honour Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo emphasized the transformative potential of the project:
“Uganda has always been a beacon of resilience in Africa. With the launch of this Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, we are not just saving lives, we are restoring hope. This is Rotary at its best: service above self, transforming communities.”
Prof. Charles Ibingira, Chairperson of the JCRC Board, highlighted the long-awaited relief the center will bring:
“Our patients have endured immense strain seeking treatment abroad. This center ensures Ugandans can access world-class care at home, dignified, equitable, and lifesaving.”
Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng reaffirmed the Government’s commitment: “This centre aligns fully with Vision 2040. It is a national milestone and a promise that no Ugandan will be left behind in the fight against sickle cell disease and cancer.”
Rotary leaders including Rotary International Director-Elect Emmanuel Katongole, District Governor Geoffrey Martin Kitakule (District 9213), and District Governor Christine Kyeyune Kawooya (District 9214) expressed unwavering support for the initiative. They emphasized that establishing Uganda’s first Bone Marrow Transplant
Centre is not merely a health investment, but a profound commitment to dignity, equity, and the future of Uganda’s children.
They further noted that the project reflects Rotary’s longstanding ethos of service above self, demonstrating how collective action can break systemic barriers, expand access to lifesaving care, and empower communities. The leaders affirmed that the center will not only save lives today but also strengthen Uganda’s medical capacity for generations to come.
Progress to Date
Significant groundwork has already been laid. JCRC and partners have invested $1.35 million in:
· Remodeling inpatient units into international-standard clean rooms
· Training clinical staff
· Conducting 147 HLA typings through a partnership with DKMS Germany to support donor matching
· Establishing a dedicated post-transplant care clinic currently managing 16 patients who underwent transplants abroad
The next phase requires $4 million to fully equip, staff, and operate the center.
Human Impact
Behind the statistics are real stories like Jeremy, a 14-year-old who underwent a curative bone marrow transplant in India in 2021. His recovery was remarkable, but the journey placed immense financial and emotional strain on his family. The BMT Centre ensures that children like Jeremy will soon receive lifesaving care here at home, supported by trained local specialists.
A Vision for Uganda’s Future
The Bone Marrow Transplant Centre represents a transformative leap forward for Uganda’s healthcare system. Once fully operational, the center will:
· Provide lifesaving bone marrow transplants to thousands of Ugandans, offering curative treatment for sickle cell disease, leukemia, lymphoma, and other severe blood disorders.
· Reduce death from sickle cell disease and blood cancers, ensuring that children and adults receive timely, high-quality care within the country.
· Prevent catastrophic out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure, enabling families to access advanced treatment without the financial devastation associated with seeking care abroad.
· Build national expertise in hematology, cell therapy, and advanced biomedical research, creating a skilled workforce capable of delivering world-class care.
· Accelerate Uganda’s contribution to global HIV cure research, leveraging evidence from bone marrow transplantation where several individuals with HIV have achieved CURE to advance scientific discovery and support future curative strategies.
As Dr. Cissy Kityo Mutuluúza, Executive Director of JCRC, stated: “This center is about hope, dignity, and giving Ugandans a second chance at life. We call on individuals, corporations, governments, and partners to join this mission. Every contribution counts.”
Pearl Bank’s Managing Director, Julius Kakeeto, mentioned that this partnership is not just a philanthropic endeavor, but a strategic investment that aligns seamlessly with Uganda’s overarching national development framework particularly the ATMS Strategy (Agro-Industrialization, Tourism, Minerals, and Science & Technology Innovation).
The ATMS Strategy is Uganda’s blueprint for achieving a ten-fold growth, with the Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) pillar recognized as the crucial accelerator for value addition across all sectors. Our support for the JCRC BMT Centre directly strengthens this pillar by advancing medical research, expanding specialized healthcare infrastructure, and building local capacity in highly specialized medical procedures.
“One of our Corporate Social Investment (CSI) pillars is health because we believe that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation and we are pleased to form a 4-year strategic partnership with JCRC towards this noble cause.” Kakeeto concluded.
