HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) has received a major boost toward the establishment of Uganda’s first specialized Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) centre after Pearl Bank donated Shs200 million, marking the start of a four-year strategic partnership aimed at expanding access to life-saving treatment for patients with complex blood disorders.
The donation was unveiled at JCRC offices in Lubowa, Entebbe Road, during the official launch of a national fundraising drive to raise $4 million needed to set up the state-of-the-art BMT facility. The centre will serve patients suffering from sickle cell disease, HIV-related complications, leukemia, lymphoma, and other serious hematological conditions, many of whom currently seek costly treatment abroad.
Handing over a dummy cheque, Pearl Bank Managing Director Julius Kakeeto said the partnership is not merely philanthropic, but a strategic investment aligned with Uganda’s national development priorities under the Agro-Industrialization, Tourism, Minerals, and Science & Technology Innovation (ATMS) strategy.
Specialised healthcare
“Our support for the JCRC BMT Centre directly strengthens the Science, Technology and Innovation pillar by advancing medical research, expanding specialized healthcare infrastructure, and building local capacity in highly specialized medical procedures,” Kakeeto said.
“One of our Corporate Social Investment pillars is health because we believe that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. We are pleased to form this four-year strategic partnership with JCRC, and one of the wards will be named the Pearl Ward.”
The Shs200 million contribution will anchor the partnership and support early construction, equipment acquisition, and capacity-building efforts. To broaden participation, JCRC announced that an online donation platform will be hosted on its website, enabling contributions through mobile money, Visa and Mastercard payments, QR scan codes, and other digital channels, all routed through Pearl Bank.
Heavy disease burden
The urgency of the project is underscored by Uganda’s heavy disease burden. Each year, an estimated 17,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease, and up to 80 percent die before the age of five due to limited access to timely and specialized care. One in seven Ugandans carries the sickle cell trait, reflecting a high genetic risk across the population.
Additionally, more than 34,000 new cancer cases are recorded annually, resulting in over 22,000 deaths, with blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma significantly contributing to childhood mortality.
Bone marrow transplantation is a proven, life-saving intervention for these conditions and has also yielded critical scientific insights for HIV research. Globally, nine individuals living with HIV who underwent bone marrow transplants for underlying blood cancers achieved complete remission of both their cancer and HIV, offering important clues in ongoing HIV cure research.
Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo, the guest of honour, described the project as transformative. “Uganda has always been a beacon of resilience in Africa. With the launch of this Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, we are not just saving lives, we are restoring hope. This is Rotary at its best: service above self, transforming communities,” he said.
JCRC Board Chairperson Prof. Charles Ibingira noted that the centre would ease the heavy emotional and financial burden on families forced to seek treatment abroad. “This centre ensures Ugandans can access world-class care at home—dignified, equitable, and lifesaving,” he said.
A national milestone
Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng reaffirmed government backing, saying the facility aligns with Vision 2040 and represents a national milestone. “It is a promise that no Ugandan will be left behind in the fight against sickle cell disease and cancer,” she said.
Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Monica Musenero pledged both institutional and personal support. “This project has government attention and will be supported,” she said, adding, “As a proud Sickle Cell Ambassador, I commit $1,000 toward this initiative.”
JCRC Executive Director Dr. Cissy Kityo Mutuluuza hailed Pearl Bank as the headline sponsor and called on individuals, corporations, and partners to contribute. “This centre is about hope, dignity, and giving Ugandans a second chance at life. Every contribution counts,” she said, noting that the Shs200 million donation would go a long way in establishing the facility.
Priscilla Akora, Head Marketing and Communications at Pearl Bank said that he partnership reflects the bank’s broader mission of fostering prosperity for Ugandans through financial inclusion and sustainable development.
“With our nationwide network of 59 branches and over 8,000 agents, we are committed to championing initiatives that deliver lasting social and economic impact.”
Once completed, the BMT centre will position Uganda as a regional leader in advanced curative medicine, including stem cell research, regenerative therapies, and gene therapy—bringing world-class treatment closer to home for thousands of patients in need.
