Masindi, Uganda: The Prime Minister of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, Owek. Andrew Byakutaga Ateenyi has flagged off a sickle cell awareness walk in Masindi Municipality, where he also served as the chief walker.
The event, organized by Mrs. Bunyoro First Runner-up 2024/25, Queen Katusiime Swabrah Abooki, through her She Cares Foundation Uganda, was held in partnership with the Austin Sickle Cell Support Organization (AUSSO) and Masindi-Kitara Diocese.
The walk, blessed by Bishop Rt. Rev. Joshua Kugonza started at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Masindi and traversed major streets before concluding at Masindi Main Hospital, where participants received free sickle cell screening, guidance, and counseling.
Owek. Byakutaga commended Queen Swabrah and her partners for spearheading the campaign, noting that sickle cell disease, locally known as Rwakahanda, affects 7 in every 1000 people, while 13 in every 1000 carry the trait.
He urged couples to test before marriage to reduce risks, linking the initiative to the Kingdom’s Eka Ekwesimisa campaign that promotes healthy, productive families as the foundation of development.
Bishop Kugonza echoed the Prime Minister’s call, encouraging communities to know their sickle cell status for better family planning and child upbringing. He also praised the kingdom’s ongoing coffee campaign under the Diocese’s Kanyuma y’Ekicumbiro program as a pathway to improved livelihoods.
Queen Swabrah thanked all partners and participants, revealing that another awareness walk will be held in September, in line with Global Sickle Cell Awareness Month.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
