Kamuli, Uganda: The Kyabazinga of Busoga, His Majesty William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, has commended Kabukye Trust for its bold healthcare initiatives in tackling Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), particularly diabetes, as the Kingdom rallies partners to embrace preventive medicine.
Speaking through the Kingdom Prime Minister, Dr Joseph Muvawala, at the launch of the Trust’s Bright Life Medical Center Sugarwise Warriors Diabetes Care in Kamuli Municipality, the Kyabazinga praised Kabukye Trust for championing healthcare access in rural areas.
Dr Muvawala warned that Uganda faces a silent health crisis driven by lifestyle changes, poor eating habits, and a reluctance to seek regular medical check-ups. He urged the shift from curative to preventive medicine to ease the growing disease burden.
“Our lifestyles and eating habits make us prone to many silent diseases. It is imperative that we shift to preventive medicine to reduce the burden,” Muvawala said, urging Kabukye Trust to pilot a school-based diabetes awareness campaign targeting rural children, with focus on early sensitization, screening, and self-management.
He pledged Kingdom support in linking the program with the National Population Authority to harness technology and community-based healthcare for diabetes and other NCDs.
Margaret Kazungu, a board member of Kabukye Trust and widow to the late Dr. David Kazungu, gave a moving testimony about her experience caring for a diabetic spouse. She said the new medical center is a legacy project in his honor and a gift to communities grappling with diabetes, high blood pressure, and sickle cell disease.
Kabukye Trust CEO Allan Kiwanuka reported that as a charity creating a bold movement, empowering every Ugandan family to thrive in health, knowledge, and opportunity, they cherish the core values of evidence-based Innovations, Client-Centered Swift Action, Excellence, and sustainable impact.
“We initially started with the Happy Mathematics Development Hub before taking on The Targeted Learning Difference, Diabetes Care, Sickle Cell Disease, Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases (Leprosy), and creating stronger futures uninterrupted- Preventing Child Sexual Abuse,” Kiwanuka revealed
On the focus on Diabetes, Kiwanuka reported that The Diabetes Context In 2024, indicated 369,000 adults (20–79) with diabetes in Uganda and 46,000 in Busoga alone which are set to rise to 1.2million by 2050 according to IDF Diabetes Atlas which can be contained through timely and accurate screening, well-contextualized nutrition, education, exercise, diet and self-management.
“The Problem is that the adults fear high costs, struggle with management, and face severe complications. The children miss school, are often ill, and some dying too young, while the at-risk groups lack knowledge and skills to prevent diabetes and live healthily,” the CEO explained.
Kabukye Trust has categorized its programs into Sugarwise Starlets (children with diabetes), Sugarwise Warriors (adults), Sugarwise Pathfinders (at-risk groups), Sugarwise Queens (pregnant mothers with gestational diabetes), and Sugarwise Angels (caregivers and health workers).
The Trust is supported by partners including the Type 1 Diabetes Community Fund Guernsey, Allan & Nesta Ferguson Education Opportunity Fund, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Faroe Islands, and the Overseas Aid Committee, with projects managed under the Kazungu family foundation.
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