Busoga Health Forum

13/03/2026

Yesterday, Busoga Health Forum had the honor of hosting a delegation from the Sida - Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete. We greatly appreciate Sida’s continued support in advancing child health and strengthening health systems in the Busoga region.

During the visit, the team discussed the progress of ongoing work implemented by Pediatric Health Initiative (PHI) and Busoga Health Forum, particularly efforts aimed at improving the quality of care for children. The discussions also explored opportunities for future collaboration and the implementation of new initiatives that will further enhance child health outcomes.

As part of the visit, the delegation toured Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, where they interacted with healthcare providers and learned firsthand about the services being delivered to children and families. The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the partnership and to strengthen collaboration toward ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

ICLD - Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy, Ministry of Health- Uganda, Peter Waiswa, Dorothy Akongo, Benjamin Desmond Tatumwa, Helena Hildenwall, Viveka Nordberg, Kyangwa Moses

08/03/2026

Today we celebrate women whose commitment to health and service strengthens communities.

27/02/2026

Today we officially enroll Cohort 4 of the Child Rights Ambassadors Program for a six-month journey of strengthening child rights in health facilities across Busoga.

This cohort of health workers and hospital administrators is committed to ensuring children’s rights are upheld in everyday service delivery through improved clinical care, safeguarding, patient engagement, and quality improvement.

Since the program began, we have seen tangible impact, including the establishment of child-friendly play centers and strengthened child protection practices at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and Kamuli General Hospital.
Pediatric Health Initiative Dorothy Akongo Benjamin Desmond Tatumwa

27/02/2026

26/02/2026

Today, Busoga Health Forum hosted a meeting with the Korea International Cooperation Agency, KOICA, as part of ongoing efforts to establish a Regional Blood Bank in Busoga.

The discussions focused on practical and sustainable strategies to increase both the quantity and quality of blood in the region, while addressing persistent challenges such as seasonal shortages, storage capacity, donor mobilization, and quality assurance systems.

With Busoga managing a high burden of obstetric emergencies, trauma cases, and pediatric anemia, strengthening blood systems is critical to saving lives. The proposed Regional Blood Bank will enhance screening, storage, distribution, rational use, and long-term sustainability of blood services.

This engagement reflects a shared commitment to health systems strengthening, local ownership, and equitable access to safe blood for all communities in Busoga.

17/02/2026

When a critically ill child arrives at a health facility, every second matters.

This week, healthcare providers from Kamuli, Iganga, Bugiri, and Buyende districts are participating in an ETAT training at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. The goal is to strengthen skills in emergency triage, rapid assessment, and life-saving interventions for children.

The training is organized by Busoga Health Forum and Pediatric Health Initiative, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health- Uganda and Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.

By equipping frontline providers with updated emergency care skills, we are strengthening referral systems and ensuring children receive timely and appropriate care across the Busoga region.

02/01/2026

"Support Uganda’s 1st female Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Jamirah Namusoke get a Kidney Transplant"

USD 55,000 (UGX200 million) needed to save her

The Baganda people of Central Uganda say, "Ekuba omunaku tekya" – the rain that beats the unfortunate person never stops. For Dr. Jamirah Namusoke, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and head of the Jinja Regional Referral Hospital Orthopaedic Department, misfortune has indeed poured relentlessly.

For three years, Dr. Namusoke has battled end-stage kidney disease, relying on dialysis. Now, amidst this hardship, she faces new injuries – fractures in her pelvis and femur – and suffers acute chest syndrome with suspected pulmonary embolism, requiring blood thinners.

Dr. Namusoke’s dedication through hundreds of surgeries transformed lives, including saving UK tourist Samuel Leeds in 2018. After his accident on the Nile, she performed a life-saving surgery in a poorly equipped ward. Grateful, Leeds later donated UGX 1 billion to establish the Samuel Leeds Orthopaedic Ward at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, revolutionizing orthopaedic care there.

Now, the healer needs healing. Dr. Namusoke urgently requires a kidney transplant in Türkiye costing $55,000 to survive and continue serving.

Call to Action:
Join hands to save Dr. Jamirah Namusoke’s life. Contribute to her kidney transplant fund.

Donation Details:
Account Name: Jamirah Namusoke
Account Number: 0151386842700
Bank: Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited
5 Speke Road, Standard House Building, Kampala, Uganda
Swift Code: SCBLUGKA ###

For details, contact: Dr Jamirah Namusoke (0772460289) or Dr Suzan Kizala (0772968584)

Samuel Leeds Peter Waiswa Benjamin Desmond Tatumwa Jinja Regional Referral Hospital

11/11/2025

Happening now is a co-creation workshop at Fairway Hotel Kampala for the Busoga Pediatric Mentorship Program.

The workshop brings together key stakeholders to design a comprehensive mentorship structure covering pediatric emergency care, neonatology, child rights, neurology, and infection prevention and control. The aim is to develop a practical framework that will be handed over to the Ministry of Health at the end of the project and strengthen the quality of care across participating hospitals.

This initiative, implemented by Busoga Health Forum in partnership with the Pediatric Health Initiative, will support all general hospitals in the Busoga Region, building stronger systems for children’s health and better outcomes for the communities we serve.

Pediatric Health Initiative Karolinska UniversitetssjukhusetHelena Hildenwall Benjamin Desmond Tatumwa

07/11/2025

During the panel discussion “From participation to outcomes, strengthening local decision-making in the health sector in East Africa” at ICLD - Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy Equitable Health Network Conference, Dr. Immaculate Mirembe, a Pediatrician at Mubende Regional Referral Hospital representing the Ministry of Health, shared thoughtful insights on how MOH is fostering stronger learning across hospitals in Uganda.

Dr. Mirembe emphasized that progress is being driven by digital platforms that support real-time learning and information sharing. Through the Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) system, Uganda is able to audit every maternal death, with the Commissioner chairing the review process. These audits are not kept at facility level alone. Health teams return to the communities to discuss what happened, why it happened, and what can be done differently. This approach ensures that both health workers and community members participate in finding solutions.

She noted that partners and health workers routinely come together to reflect on evidence and translate it into practical action. This collaborative process has contributed to a noticeable reduction in maternal deaths. Platforms such as Local Maternity and Neonatal Systems are active in every region, bringing teams from different districts together at regional level under the guidance of coordinators. Regional performance review meetings further strengthen learning by providing space for facilities to share their progress, challenges, and innovations.

Dr. Mirembe also highlighted the use of bundles of care such as ETAT+ training under the child thrive project implemented by Busoga Health Forum, Pediatric Health Initiative, and Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, who share regional knowledge and experience. According to her, these collective efforts demonstrate the power of local capacity and peer learning in driving meaningful improvements in the health sector.

Ministry of Health- Uganda

07/11/2025

Happening now under the Equitable Health Network of ICLD - Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy, our teams under the Region Stockholm, Sweden, and Jinja City partnership are attending a meeting in Nairobi.
The Equitable Health Network brings together four regions and their partner municipalities in Uganda and Kenya in a joint effort to promote greater equity in healthcare.

By working across borders and sharing experiences, these partnerships aim to strengthen democratic approaches to health, ensuring that communities are heard, involved, and empowered in shaping the systems that serve them.
Pediatric Health Initiative Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset Ministry of Health- Uganda

09/10/2025

Busoga Health Forum proudly celebrates Dorothy Akongo, our Research and Advocacy Manager, who represented the Forum on a panel in Zambia discussing ways to strengthen youth participation in local democracy.

She shared inspiring examples of how Busoga Health Forum, in partnership with the Pediatric Health Initiative and with support from the ICLD - Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy, is empowering young people to speak up and take part in decision-making.

This is being achieved through Children’s Parliaments, Child Rights Ambassador trainings, and Citizen Report Cards that amplify youth feedback and voices in governance.

Dorothy also emphasized the ongoing challenges that still need attention, including resource constraints, limited capacity, lack of feedback mechanisms, and power imbalances that continue to hinder meaningful youth engagement.

Together, we remain committed to building inclusive systems where every young person can shape the future they deserve.

13/09/2025

https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/icld/blog_posts/strength-in-unity-how-partnerships-and-political-engagement-are-transforming-child-health-in-busoga-123099
Pediatric Health Initiative ICLD - Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy

By Dorothy Akongo– Research and Advocacy Manager, Busoga Health Forum and participant in the Child Thrive Project within the ICLD municipal partnership...