KALANGALA. The Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands has officially handed over Dajje Health Centre II in Bweeza-Dajje Village, Bujjumba Sub-county, to Kalangala District Local Government after managing and supporting the facility for nearly a decade.
The handover ceremony Thursday marked the transfer of the facility’s land title and management responsibilities to the district leadership, paving the way for full government support, including providing medicines and operational funding.
Speaking at the event, Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands president Deborah Itwau said the health facility was established through a tripartite partnership involving the Rotary Club, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala’s family and Kalangala District Local Government.
“The district was there for matters of sustainability and technical oversight in building the health facility. Our role as Rotary Club was to construct the health facility while the Wamala family provided the land,” she said.
“We are now handing over the facility’s land title to the district so that it can fully manage the facility. On the 26th of this month, the Ministry of Health will begin supplying medicines to the facility,” Ms Itwau added.
Ms Itwau said the health centre is among several community projects implemented by the club in Kalangala District.
She noted that the club also constructed a dormitory accommodating 80 students at Bishop Dunstan Memorial Secondary School and is currently working on establishing a floating health facility, commonly known as a medical boat, to improve healthcare access in island communities.
“We thank the Wamala family, the district, government and the people of Bweeza-Dajje for their collaboration, which has enabled us to successfully complete this project,” she said.
According to the Past Assistant Governor of Kampala Ssese Islands Rotary Club Medard Mugaanzi the Club which has existed for more than 35 years, made the decision to establish the health facility in Dajje Bweeza Village after years conducting medical camps in Kalangala.
“We used to organize medical camps in Kalangala District and realized they had a health challenge so, we decided to undertake something more impactful using the Triple B approach (Big, Better and Bold) when selecting a project that could transform many lives,” Mr Mugaanzi said.
He said they made an assessment in Bweeza-Dajje in 2015 which revealed severe challenges in access to healthcare and education.
“It’s from there we decided to begin with the health facility and staff houses. Later, we established a community school after realizing that children were walking very long distances through oil palm plantations to access education,” he said.
“We are grateful to the district for entering into a tripartite agreement with us to ensure the project’s success. We also thank the Wamala family for providing land for the facility,” he added.
He urged the club and district leaders to continue monitoring the project to ensure its sustainability.
Dajje Health Centre II was officially commissioned by Vice President Emeritus Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi on September 10, 2016.
The facility in-charge, Ms Florence Wanyana, said the Rotary Club, the Wamala family and Kalangala District have supported the facility since its establishment.
“Kalangala District Local Government deployed six health workers, including four nurses, support staff and security personnel who are paid by the government,” Ms Wanyana said.
She added that the facility has been conducting deliveries after receiving maternity equipment and a midwife