How a Partnership Transformed Health Care for Mothers, Children and Adolescents in Busoga

Kampala, Uganda: For many years, the Busoga sub-region struggled with some of the weakest health outcomes in Uganda. Mothers gave birth in overcrowded rooms, clinics lacked basic equipment, and young people had little access to reliable information about their bodies and well-being. The situation was especially difficult in the five districts of Bugiri, Buyende, Iganga, Kamuli, and Mayuge.

But between 2020 and 2025, a transformation began. With funding from the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the World Health Organization (WHO) worked closely with the Ministry of Health to strengthen the health system in these districts. This collaborative effort focused on improving reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, often referred to as RMNCAH.

The project not only enhanced the health care system's capacity to deliver improved health outcomes. It changed daily life for families, health workers and adolescents. It restored confidence in health facilities and renewed hope among the population that care was finally within reach.

Renovated facilities, improved services, and renewed dignity
Backed by a US$10 million investment, WHO implemented a package of interventions that proved highly effective and operationally efficient, leveraging strategic partnerships, digital innovations and cascading training for health workers and managers.
Most notably, maternal and neonatal mortality declined significantly across the 30 targeted health facilities, from 66 to 19.3 per 100,000 live births and from 5 to 2.5 per 1,000 live births, respectively. Beneficiaries also reported noticeable improvement in the quality of care and overall patient satisfaction.

The scale of impact is evident across the region. A total of 28 health facilities were renovated, each equipped with rainwater-harvesting systems, and five boreholes were constructed to strengthen water access for service delivery. Together, these investments have improved access to quality care for more than 800,000 people, particularly women and newborns.

In addition, seven ambulances were procured, enabling over 8,051 emergency referrals between May 2021 and September 2025 alone, and improving timely access to life-saving care. The project also strengthened the health workforce, training more than 400 health workers in maternal, newborn, and child health, and equipped 30 health facilities with cold chain systems to support vaccine storage, as well as equipment to manage emergency obstetric and newborn complications.

The project further expanded into secondary schools, training more than 2,739 teachers and delivering sexual and reproductive health education to over 11,742 students.

District leadership and governance were also strengthened through targeted training of district health management teams, alongside efforts to improve data reporting and use among health workers, supporting more informed, evidence-based decision-making.
Importantly, these achievements were not imposed from outside. They were co-created with district leaders, school authorities, and health workers to ensure that the gains made are not only substantial but also sustainable.

Revitalized laboratory services at the front lines
At Balawoli Health Centre III in Kamuli, Monica Namulinda no longer dreads her antenatal visits. She remembers the days when women had to stand in the sun waiting for services or make long journeys to distant hospitals because local laboratories lacked functioning equipment. Today, she speaks with pride:
"We are well taken care of. The place is very clean, and water is always available… The project has been very beneficial to us."
In Iganga, laboratory technician Julius Mawaali explains how his workspace was transformed from a place of risk to a place of safety:
"The project has done a lot for us. It has standardized our work, structure and services."
With clean running water, proper work surfaces, and essential equipment, the laboratory now serves more patients and gives faster, more reliable results.

A referral system that saves lives
Before the project, ambulances were scarce and unreliable. Expectant mothers who required referral for the next level of care sometimes had no choice but to travel on boda-bodas, dangerous journeys that too often ended in tragedy.

Now, through KOICA's support, seven fully equipped ambulances serve the districts. Drivers were trained, ambulance committees were established to coordinate services, fuel pooling systems were introduced, and communities were guided on how to use the service.

At Nankoma Health Centre IV in Bugiri, ambulance driver Yusuf Abu Kisadhaki feels the change every day:
"With this ambulance, we have served the entire Busoga region… Now I can transport up to ten patients a day, mostly mothers."
His confidence is backed by better support from district leaders, who now ensure the ambulances are well-maintained and fueled.
For mothers like Moreen Katushabe in Buyende, the ambulance is more than a vehicle; it is peace of mind. She lost a baby in 2016 after being forced to travel by motorcycle to a far-off hospital. Today, she says:
"We are now lucky that Kidera Health Centre IV received an ambulance. We are so grateful because the situation is now better."

Young people empowered with knowledge and confidence
The project also prioritized adolescents, many of whom previously faced stigma, misinformation, and early pregnancy.
Schools established active health clubs; teachers were trained to deliver comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education; and health workers began providing adolescent-friendly health services, including regular school outreach. Girls learned how to manage menstruation with dignity. Boys learned how to support them. Both gained knowledge about HIV, reproductive health, and making informed, healthy choices.
At Bunya Secondary School, student Shamim Namukose says:
"Girls are asking questions. Boys are also listening and learning."
Her fellow student, Ibra Ikoba, explains their shared motto:
"We use the slogan: 'Education First, Children Wait.'"
Teachers have noticed the impact. At Bukoyo Secondary School in Iganga, Everline Wafula says:
"Before, we identified four or five pregnant girls every term. That has now changed."

A partnership appreciated by the government and communities
The Ministry of Health applauded the partnership for its alignment with national priorities, including Vision 2040, the National Development Plans, and the RMNCAH Sharpened Plan.

Dr Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services, praised the project for strengthening district leadership and governance, particularly through improved data use for decision-making. Dr Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary, highlighted its crucial contribution to reducing maternal deaths in Busoga, noting that it has helped advance the implementation of health plans, often constrained by limited resources.

WHO Representative Dr Kasonde Mwinga noted that the project goes beyond a one-off capital investment, describing it as a set of foundational enablers of integrated people-centred primary health care, the backbone of universal health coverage. KOICA Country Director Ms Jihee Ahn reaffirmed Korea's commitment to Uganda's health priorities, acknowledging the partnership as a model for effective development cooperation. Together, they highlighted one message: lasting change happens when development partners and governments work hand in hand with communities.

A new chapter for Busoga
Today, the five project districts look markedly different from what they were in 2020. Health workers are more confident. Ambulances arrive when they are needed. Mothers give birth in dignity. Young people stay in school. What once felt impossible is now an everyday reality.

The work is not finished, but the foundation is strong. The systems established - training, equipment, community involvement, and strengthened leadership - will continue to benefit families long after the project ends.
Busoga has turned a corner, and its communities now look to the future with renewed hope.

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Learn more about the project's impact in the brochure: (https://www.afro.who.int/sites/default/files/2026-04/MOH-KOICA-WHO%20RM…