Reading Matins Helps Bring Kampala’s First Maternity Hospital to Life

In a major step toward reducing preventable maternal and infant deaths in Uganda, the Rotary Club of Reading Matins continues to spearhead fundraising efforts for the completion of Kampala’s first dedicated maternity hospital. [Need stats on Ugandan maternal healthcare]

The Kyengera Hospital project has been led by two long-standing Rotarians: former surgeon Dr. Jim McWhirter and Mark Barrett, Chairman of Francis Construction.

Initially nearing completion in 2018, construction was abruptly halted following the passing of a key benefactor. This left the hospital without essential facilities such as an operating theatre, an outpatient department, and necessary internal fittings.

The project has been driven by The Daughters of Mary, a Catholic nursing order in Uganda, known as The Sisters. Despite their efforts, the required funds to finish the hospital far exceeded their capacity. In 2022, Sister Maria Goretti Namuwulya was appointed hospital administrator and reached out to Dr. McWhirter, a member of the Management Committee of the Rotary Doctor Bank, to explore possible support from Rotary.

Dr. McWhirter, with extensive experience in refurbishing mission hospitals in Uganda—including Kamuli Hospital and Freda Carr Hospital near Ngora—was eager to assist. Fortuitously, he and a group from the Rotary Club of Reading Matins were visiting Uganda at the time for the Centenary Celebrations of Freda Carr Hospital. During their visit, they assessed the Kyengera site and identified the critical needs.

Drawing on his expertise in fundraising for medical projects, Dr. McWhirter initiated a new campaign, and on 6th October 2023—after a five-year hiatus—construction resumed at Kyengera Hospital.

On 4th March 2024, Kyengera Women’s Hospital officially opened its doors, offering outpatient services, antenatal and maternity care, and an immunisation clinic.

Further bolstering the project, the Rotary Club of Reading Matins was awarded a Global Grant by The Rotary Foundation to equip the hospital’s operating theatre. The installation was completed in December 2024, and following an inspection by Uganda’s Health Ministry in January 2025, the facility was granted full hospital status.

A milestone moment was reached on 8th February 2025, when the hospital performed its first operation—a successful Caesarean section resulting in the safe delivery of a healthy baby girl, marking 11 years since the project first began.

The Rotary Club of Reading Matins remains committed to ensuring that Kyengera Women’s Hospital continues to serve the community, providing vital maternal healthcare for generations to come.