The Bank of Uganda (BoU) has on Wednesday June 18, 2025, officially handed over a newly constructed Outpatient Department (OPD) block and a renovated maternity ward at Ayago Health Centre III, located in Lira City East Division.

The development is part of the central bank’s ongoing national maternal and child health care initiative that began in 2016.

Constructed at a cost of UGX 430 million by Akol Holdings Ltd, the upgraded facility includes modern medical equipment and improved infrastructure.

Ayago becomes the 13th beneficiary of BoU’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme aimed at improving primary healthcare services in underserved communities.

Susan Wasagali Kanyemibwa, BoU Secretary and Head of CSR, said the bank’s interventions are guided by a broader vision beyond financial stability.

She emphasized that the health and productivity of a population were central to the country’s socio-economic development.

Kanyemibwa explained that Ayago Health Centre III had met all necessary criteria to benefit from the initiative.

She noted that BoU had also provided essential medical equipment and urged the local health team to ensure that staff receive proper training to use the new equipment.

She further appealed to both the health workers and community members to take responsibility for maintaining the new facility.

Dr. Emmanuel Odongo, the in-charge of Ayago Health Centre III, appreciated BoU for the support and expressed special gratitude to the Minister of Health and Lira City Woman MP, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero.

He described her as a beacon of hope for the region and the country, crediting her endurance and lobbying efforts in making the project a reality.

Vincent Okurut, Lira City Town Clerk, praised BoU and all stakeholders who contributed to the project.

He pledged that the Lira City technical team would provide regular supervision to ensure that the facility was maintained and services delivered effectively.

He also said that plans were underway to raise staffing levels at Ayago and other city health centres.

Okurut commended Minister Aceng for her ongoing efforts to improve healthcare in Lira.

Lira City Mayor, Sam Atul, said that the developments in the city were the result of electing trustworthy and accountable leaders.

He noted that Lira City was ranked first nationally in health service delivery during the last financial year.

He encouraged residents, especially pregnant mothers, to use government health facilities to help leaders justify requests for additional support.

Atul further urged the BoU Governor to consider establishing a regional office in Lira City, arguing that the city generated more revenue than several other regional cities and had land available for the office.

Minister of Health and Lira City Woman MP, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero applauded BoU for the initiative, saying that health is wealth and that the facility had been received with gratitude.

She revealed that she had received two ultrasound machines from a friend and would donate them to Ayago and Ober Health Centre IV.

She appealed to BoU to educate the local community on using mobile money, citing widespread difficulty in digital transactions.

Aceng also encouraged the community to advise teenagers under the age of 17 to avoid early pregnancies due to associated health risks and complications.

She urged residents to use community extension workers for regular health checks, including blood pressure and sugar levels, in order to prevent sudden unexplained deaths linked to undetected conditions.

Resident City Commissioner Lawrence Egole attributed the success of the project to collaboration between the Ministry of Health and BoU.

He said that the facility had significantly improved access to healthcare for the local population, particularly pregnant women.

He praised the central government, the Ministry of Health, and BoU for supporting the health sector and added that a healthy population is key to economic growth.

Egole called on citizens to align with President Museveni’s vision for national development.

BoU Governor Michael Atingi-Ego said Ayago was once a modest village along the Lira–Kitgum highway but had transformed into a growing community with development potential and a population of about 2,500 residents.

He said this growth made the area suitable for sustainable intervention, adding that the project would reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, ease the burden on regional hospitals, and enhance access to treatment for both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

He also said that healthy citizens are essential for economic productivity, which in turn supports BoU’s mission of maintaining price stability and promoting the use of financial services.

Responding to calls for BoU to establish a regional office in Lira City, Atingi-Ego noted that although the city had not previously met the criteria, the bank would revisit the requirements and explore possibilities for future consideration.

Since 2016, BoU’s CSR health programme has supported health centres in Mbale, Mbarara, Arua, Gulu, Jinja, Masaka, and other districts.

The programme operates under the theme: “Maternal and Child Health Care for a Healthy Society.”

Despite the milestone, Ayago Health Centre III continues to face land constraints.

Local leaders remain hopeful that further investment and support will help the facility expand and serve the growing healthcare demands of the community.