dfcu Bank has intensified its community health outreach efforts through the “Hope in Motion” Walk for Sickle Cell, a nationwide awareness initiative aimed at promoting screening, blood donation and stronger support systems for families living with Sickle Cell Disease.
Held in Kampala in partnership with Mulago National Referral Hospital and Mengo Hospital, the walk attracted hundreds of participants including corporate executives, healthcare professionals, government officials, caregivers, volunteers and Sickle Cell warriors, turning the city into a visible campaign for one of Uganda’s most pressing public health challenges.
The initiative forms part of dfcu Bank’s sustainability agenda as the financial institution marks 62 years of operations in Uganda. It also builds on the ongoing dfcu–Rotary Uganda Health Camps that are expanding access to community healthcare services across the country.
Uganda remains among the countries with the highest Sickle Cell burden globally, with an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 babies born annually with the condition. Health experts estimate that nearly 20 percent of Ugandans carry the Sickle Cell trait, with prevalence rates particularly high in Northern Uganda. The disease often subjects affected families to recurring pain crises, costly medical treatment, emotional stress and repeated hospital admissions.
According to Helena Mayanja, the bank’s involvement in the Sickle Cell campaign dates back to 2024 during dfcu’s 60th Anniversary celebrations under the staff-led “60 Acts of Kindness” initiative.
“Our involvement in the Sickle Cell journey started during dfcu’s 60th Anniversary through the dfcu staff-led 60 Acts of Kindness campaign. What began as a simple outreach to the Mulago Sickle Cell wards opened our eyes to the realities many families face daily,” Mayanja said during the event.
She noted that interactions with patients, caregivers and healthcare workers exposed the urgent need for sustained support, awareness campaigns and improved patient care facilities.
Mayanja revealed that the “Hope in Motion” Walk was partly organised to mobilise support for the refurbishment of sanitary facilities at the Mulago Sickle Cell Clinic, which serves more than 200 patients daily. She added that contributions from dfcu staff had already exceeded the initial fundraising target.
The event also drew support from senior government officials, including David Bahati, who commended dfcu Bank for using its corporate anniversary celebrations to address a critical national health issue.
“Sickle Cell Disease continues to affect many families across Uganda, yet awareness and support remain limited. Initiatives like the ‘Hope in Motion’ Walk help bring visibility, encourage screening and mobilise communities to stand together in support of patients and caregivers,” Bahati said.
Rosemary Byanyima described the initiative as a timely intervention that continues to offer hope to families dealing with the disease. She welcomed the Ministry of Health’s recent rollout of mandatory newborn screening for Sickle Cell Disease, describing it as a major step toward early diagnosis and improved patient outcomes.
Meanwhile, Philip Kasirye said Mulago hosts Uganda’s oldest and largest Sickle Cell care centre, established in 1968, while applauding efforts to decentralise specialised care services to regional referral hospitals and district health facilities.
Through the campaign, dfcu Bank says it aims to transform awareness into measurable action by improving healthcare facilities, increasing blood donation drives and strengthening long-term support for Uganda’s growing Sickle Cell community.