The morning of Tuesday 11th
August 2015, saw members of the Rotary fraternity in Uganda together with the
management and staff of Mengo and the Bishop of Namirembe to dedicate the place
where the Rotary Blood Bank project is going to be constructed.
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| District Governor Robert Nsibirwa welcomes Bishop Luwalira |
Welcoming the guests, the
Director Mengo Hospital Dr. Rose Mutumba expressed happiness for Rotary to decide to
construct a second Blood bank in the country. “We are happy that the second
Blood Bank in the country is going to be built in Mengo Hospital” she said.
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| AG Ruth Nvumetta the Chairperson of the Blood Bank Project |
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| From left, Mrs. Faith Luwalira, Rtn. Sam Bwaya, Bishop Luwalira, DG Bob Nsibirwa and Trustee Sam Owor |
On her part the Chairperson of
the Rotary Blood Bank project, Hon. Ruth Nvumetta Kavuma said that she was
happy that the project had gone that far. She went on to say that the challenge
was to raise funds in order for the project to take off. “We all know how
strange it can be without enough supply of blood when it is much needed” she
said.
The District Governor, Bob
Nsibirwa who doubles as Kabaka’s Minister for Investment thanked the Bishop of
Namirembe the Rt. Rev. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira for accepting to come and
dedicate the project before it commences into the hands of God.
“My Lord Bishop, you are a very
developmental Bishop who has started and accomplished a number of projects. We
are sure you will give us all the necessary support to complete this project”
He said.
He went on to narrate how Rotarians
worldwide work and how their ideas are usually turned into projects that help
the communities. He said that it was through such exchange of ideas that Rotarians
headed by Past District Governor Emmanuel Katongole to come up with the idea of
constructing a second Blood Bank in the country at Mengo Hospital. “We felt
that if we had a partner like Mengo Hospital, we could mitigate the challenges
of lack of blood in most health facilities in Uganda” he said.
DG Bob recognized PDG Stephen Mwanje who was present
for being able to steer the campaign of
constructing a Cancer Centre in Nsambya Hospital. He said that cancer patients
and other accident patients require a lot of blood, so this Blood Bank in Mengo
would be very useful to the community.
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| DG Bob addressing the gathering at Mengo Hospital |
He called upon the members of
staff of Mengo Hospital to buy tickets to participate in the 4th
Rotary Cancer Run Scheduled for 30th August 2015, whose proceeds
would be used for the construction of the Rotary Blood Bank in Mengo Hospital.
He concluded by thanking the
Bishop and Mengo Hospital for accepting to partner with Rotary in that project.
Speaking at the same function,
the Rotary Foundation Trustee Sam Owor said that he was happy to have been
associated with Mengo Hospital for a long time. He thanked the hospital
authorities and the church for accepting Rotary to constructing the Blood Bank
in the hospital. He said that it was our duty to stand and be counted to
influence positive change in the world as the motto of Rotary Foundation states
“Do good in the World”
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| DG Bob addressing the gathering at Mengo Hospital |
Before dedicating the project
into the hands of the Lord, the Namirembe Diocesan Bishop Wilberforce Kityo
Luwalira, flanked by his wife, Faith Luwalira, said that he was happy that
Rotary had understood that “we have to allow God to do the needful in all our
projects”. He went on to say that God
was very important in all our work simply because he is the builder, when we make our plans we have
to dedicate them to him, because he is the master planner, and that when we are
building this blood bank we need protection which God will provide because he
is the protector. And for the money and resources needed for completion of the
work, God the provider will provide.
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| Trustee Sam Owor making his remarks |
He also said that because God is
faithful, we shall need people who are faithful to use the right materials. “These
days contractors are not faithful in that they use substandard materials saying
they can do the job” he said. He appealed to the contractor to be faithful and
to use the right materials so that the name of the Lord would be praised. “We are here to say Lord you are our
protector, planer and provider. We ask you to give us all the finances and
materials to complete this project” the Bishop prayed.
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| Bishop Luwalira preaching |
He told the people present that
they were blessed to be part of history to see the dedication of the project
and would be glad to see it to the end.
He concluded by reading
from Psalms 127: Except the Lord build the house, they labour in
vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman
waketh but in vain.2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the
bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
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| Group photo at the Blood Bank ground |
