Buganda and Rotary International have announced a landmark plan to introduce Uganda’s first floating hospital, a Shs 1.6 billion facility designed to ease access to healthcare for communities living on the hard-to-reach Ssese Islands.
The project, unveiled at Bulange by Ahmed Lwasa, the deputy speaker of Buganda Lukiiko, marks a significant breakthrough for island residents who have long struggled to obtain even the most basic medical services.
The specialised hospital boat is expected to deliver maternal care, child health services, disease prevention, emergency treatment, and health education to thousands who currently depend on irregular medical outreaches or costly travel to the mainland.
Lwasa, flanked by several officials from Buganda, said the floating hospital would be the first of its kind in Uganda and a major step towards reducing healthcare inequality.
“It is with profound honour that Rotary International, in collaboration with other partners, has finalised plans to introduce a floating hospital that will offer specialised treatment to our people in hard-to-reach communities,” he said.
The Shs 1.6 billion project has attracted support from a wide range of partners. Buganda Amakula, Rotary Club of Northern California and Nevada will contribute Shs 109.5 million, Rotary Club of Antioch Shs 60.2 million, and Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands Shs 20 million. Other partners working with Rotary have pledged Shs 711.7 million.
Lwasa, who chaired the press briefing on behalf of Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga, urged Ugandans to support the effort by sending contributions through global grant number 2462408 under the Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands.
He expressed gratitude to the Rotary Club of Northern California and Nevada, Buganda Amakula representatives Patrick Nalika Ssendedgeya and Paul Kiruuta, the Rotary Club of Antioch, and all other partners who have backed the project.
Former Rotary district governor Mike Sebalu, who led the Kampala Ssese Islands delegation, said the hospital boat fits closely with Rotary’s core areas of focus, including peace and security, maternal and child health, disease prevention, basic education, water and sanitation, economic development, and environmental protection.
He said the Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands would work closely with the kingdom to promote health awareness, including sanitation, immunisation, and clean water access.
Buganda’s minister for Local Government, Joseph Kawuki, said the floating hospital will be built in Uganda once the specialised boat arrives from the United States. He instructed the Ssese County chief and Kampala Ssese Islands Rotary leaders to recruit a team of young technicians to support the construction.
The Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands will receive the equipment, oversee the building process, and later hand over the completed hospital to the Buganda Kingdom under the terms of an existing memorandum of understanding.
Kawuki thanked all partners whose efforts had pushed the milestone project towards reality. He said the boat hospital would not only transform healthcare delivery in island communities but also create opportunities for skills development among young people in Buganda.
