More than 300 people turned up for a free medical camp organised by the Bweranyangi Old Girls Association in Kampala, as alumni of one of Uganda’s oldest girls’ schools combined healthcare outreach with renewed calls for stronger attention to mental health.
The medical outreach, organized by former students of Bweranyangi Girls Senior Secondary School, at All Saints Cathedral Kampala, attracted both alumni and members of the public seeking medical consultation and treatment services.
Speaking during the event, Dr. Edrida Muheki said the initiative was aimed at giving back to the community while also highlighting the importance of mental health in everyday life.
“We are here today on behalf of the Bweranyangi Old Girls Association to support our people and the general population of Kampala by providing medical care,” she said.
Muheki, who serves on the association’s executive committee and is currently the country representative of the Carter Center,
The Commissioner of Mental Health and Control of Substance Abuse, Dr. Hafsa Lukwata emphasized that mental health remains one of the most neglected aspects of healthcare despite its critical role in people’s daily lives.
“There is no health without mental health”, she said.” We pay attention to physical illnesses and forget about our mental wellbeing, yet mental health helps us think, make decisions, relate with others and carry out our daily activities.”
She noted that stress, anxiety and emotional strain continue to affect many Ugandans silently, making awareness and community support increasingly important.
The event also turned into a celebration of friendship and school heritage as former students reunited and reflected on their experiences at Bweranyangi Girls Senior Secondary School.
Several alumni shared emotional memories of their school days, including stories about the institution’s early pioneers who broke barriers for women in medicine and leadership.
One alumna recalled how the school’s first female doctor faced ridicule during her university years because few people had heard of Bweranyangi at the time.
“You don’t know how much they teased me when I reached there, asking where Bweranyangi was,” she said. “But today we have very many doctors from our brave school.”
Founded in 1912 at Kamukuzi by a missionary identified as Miss Beka, also known as “Amoti,” Bweranyangi Girls is regarded as one of Uganda’s oldest girls’ boarding schools and has produced generations of professional women across different sectors.
Songs celebrating the school’s legacy filled the gathering as alumni praised the institution for shaping women leaders from across Uganda.
Organizers said the medical camp offered a range of health services, including mental health awareness, general medical check-ups and health consultations.
The association urged other alumni groups and school associations to organize similar community outreach activities to improve access to healthcare and strengthen social support networks.
“We urge all school associations and alumni groups to organize such events,” Muheki said. “Giving back to communities through health services can make a real difference in people’s lives.”