KARITA, Amudat District — 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 & supplies, solar power equipment, assorted ICT equipment, boosted transport and communication of the Village Health Teams through donation of bicycles & smartphones, digital health training and community health interventions across four health facilities, with the combined infrastructure and interventions valued at more than Shs 600 million.
Karita was the final stop in the campaign, following interventions at Kibiito Health Centre IV in Bunyangabu District, Maddu Health Centre IV in Gomba District and Kiyunga Health Centre IV in Luuka District.
Uganda has made progress in reducing maternal deaths, with the maternal mortality ratio falling to 189 deaths per 100,000 live births from 336 a decade ago. But the country remains above the global Sustainable Development Goal target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Neonatal mortality has also declined to 22 deaths per 1,000 live births from 27, although that remains well above the SDG target of 12.
“We at MTN Uganda believe that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life,” Dennis A. Kakonge, General Manager Corporate Services & Company Secretary, MTN MoMo said.
“It is about connecting people to information, connecting healthcare workers to the tools they need, and connecting communities to services and opportunities.”
At Karita, which serves more than 40,000 people from Amudat and neighbouring districts as well as communities across the Kenyan border, the programme included medical screenings, patient registration, health education and provision of medical supplies.
Health workers were trained in the Electronic Medical Records Information System, while Village Health Teams received digital skills training. MTN MoMo also conducted financial literacy engagements, including information on MoMo Cover.
The facility’s remote location also makes access to specialised care difficult. For instance, Moroto Regional Referral Hospital is about 200 kilometres away, while Amudat Hospital is roughly 90 kilometres away. As a result, some residents cross into Kenya to seek care at Kacheliba Hospital, about 20 kilometres from Karita.
Dr. George Ogwang, the in-charge of Karita Health Centre IV, said the support would strengthen the facility’s ability to serve its large catchment population, particularly mothers and newborns.
“The medical equipment, solar support and other interventions will strengthen our ability to provide quality services and respond to patients more effectively,” he said.
Dr. Andrew Munerya, the acting District Health Officer for Amudat District, said private-sector partnerships were important in extending healthcare to underserved communities.
“The investments in equipment, digital health, renewable energy and community health strengthen the health system and complement government efforts to improve maternal and newborn health,” he said.
The chief guest and State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Esther Anyakun, commended MTN Uganda and its partners for supporting healthcare delivery in the region, saying the government is also working hard to strengthen facilities located far from major hospitals.
“Facilities such as Karita Health Centre IV serve communities that are far from regional referral hospitals. We are working hard as government to ensure that such facilities have the equipment, medicines and skilled personnel needed to provide timely and quality care,” Anyakun said.
“We appreciate MTN Uganda and its partners for complementing government efforts to strengthen healthcare services in underserved communities.”
Some partners at the handover ceremony at Karita Health Centre IV commended MTN Uganda for creating a platform that brings different organisations together to address community needs.
Prof. Diana Nandagire Ntamu, Director of the Entrepreneurship Centre at Makerere University Business School, said the campaign demonstrated the value of collective action in tackling social challenges.
“We are very honoured to be part of MTN’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care… We believe in the power of collaboration to transform lives,” she said. “Government is doing everything it can, but it cannot reach everyone with everything. The way we address our social challenges must therefore be through collective action.”
Diana Ondoga, Corporate Social Investment Manager at Stanbic Bank, echoed the call for stronger partnerships, urging the participating organisations to recognise the broader value of investing in healthcare.
“Let us give a big round of applause to all the partners,” she said. “Healthcare is not simply a social service. It is a foundation for human development, productivity and prosperity.”
The campaign, held under the theme “Expand Equitable Health for Every Community,” was postponed from June to August following an Ebola outbreak in Uganda and DRC.
MTN said the programme forms part of its Ambition 2030 strategy and broader efforts to use technology and partnerships to expand access to essential services.
The company worked with the Ministry of Health, Amudat District Local Government, Stanbic Bank Uganda, Tower of Africa, ATC Uganda,212 Cooperative Society, S & L Advocates, Buffalo Bicycles, Bayobab, CAUUM, Roofings Group, Mengo Hospital, CORSU Rehabilitation Hospital, Uganda Red Cross Society, Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, UNFPA, Maendeleo Foundation, Zuri Health, MTN MoMo, ClinicPesa, MUBS EIIC, GHE Consulting, Huawei, Ericsson, Exquisite Solutions, ATTA Breastmilk and other partners during the campaign
