Tag Archives: childbirth

UCU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, accompanied by the Dean, UCU School of Medicine, Dr. Gerald Tumusiime, during a maiden visit to Kagando in 2021.

UCU Kagando College: A Beacon of Hope for Maternal Health in Kasese


UCU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, accompanied by the Dean, UCU School of Medicine, Dr. Gerald Tumusiime, during a maiden visit to Kagando in 2021.
UCU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, accompanied by the Dean, UCU School of Medicine, Dr. Gerald Tumusiime, during a maiden visit to Kagando in 2021.

By Jimmy Siyasa
Imagine an expectant mother, filled with anticipation for her newborn, yet gripped by fear—not knowing if she’ll survive childbirth due to maternal health challenges and systemic barriers. Beyond imagination is the stark reality confronting countless Ugandan pregnant and parenting women every day.

Thus, the news of the establishment of  the Uganda Christian University (UCU)-Kagando College sent a strong wave of hope and excitement both within the UCU fraternity and the Kasese, western region, community.

Here’s more of why:

  • According to the Uganda Ministry of Health Annual Health Sector Report for 2023/2024, the Institutional Maternal Mortality Ratio (IMMR) across 20 general hospitals with the highest rates reached a staggering 9,806 deaths in 2024. To put that in perspective, the USA-based Center for Disease Control  (CDC)defines maternal mortality as “the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.” At Kagando General Hospital in Kasese District —a region with nearly 850,000 residents—381 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births were recorded last year. That’s nearly 400 out of every 100,000 women who gave birth in Kasese, never getting the chance to hold their babies.
  • Compare this to the United States, where, with a population of 340.1 million, only 817 women died of maternal causes in 2024, per CDC data. Kasese’s population is just shy of South Dakota’s 886,667, yet its maternal death toll is disproportionately high—a sobering statistic that demands attention. Remarkably, Kagando General Hospital’s IMMR was among the ‘lowest’ on Uganda’s list of 20 worst-affected hospitals, hinting at the dire state of maternal care nationwide.
  • Leading drivers of maternal death in Uganda are obstetric hemorrhage (excessive bleeding before, during and after child birth), infections, delays in seeking care, and a critical skills gap among healthcare workers. The Uganda National Institute of Public Health identifies this skills deficit—particularly in emergency obstetric and newborn care—as an “avoidable” factor driving maternal deaths. The urgent need to train both current and future healthcare professionals is clear. No mother or child should die due to ignorance or negligence.

Earlier this year, the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) greenlit the transformation of Kagando Training Institution into a Constituent College of UCU following a rigorous four-year review. 

The final assessment, conducted in July 2024, saw Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi and UCU’s Cabinet showcase the college’s readiness—evaluating staff qualifications, library resources, classrooms, laboratories and management structure, among other elements. UCU’s Academic Affairs division worked tirelessly to meet every regulatory benchmark, leading to the approval later from the NCHE dated February 7, 2025. 

Inside the Nursing Skills Lab at Kagando Training Institution
Inside the Nursing Skills Lab at Kagando Training Institution

Set to launch operations in 2025 with an initial capacity of 540 students, UCU-KUC will offer three vital programs: Bachelor of Nursing Science, Bachelor of Midwifery Science and Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science. On April 5, 2025, the UCU Vice Chancellor and other top management staff were scheduled to officially commission the college at a ceremony in Kasese, bringing UCU’s total number of constituent colleges to three—Mbale, Kabale and now Kagando.

For Kasese, a densely populated district in western Uganda, this is more than an academic milestone—it’s a lifeline. Expectant mothers can now look forward to safer deliveries and the joy of nurturing their newborns, thanks to a new generation of skilled healthcare providers that will in no time emerge from UCU KUC. 

UCU Kagando College isn’t just a training ground; it’s a beacon of hope tackling one of Uganda’s most pressing health crises. UCU Management’s investment in this initiative means equipping healthcare workers to save lives, reducing maternal mortality and strengthening a community of nearly a million people. 

As such, it is an uphill, yet worthy and doable task, given the necessary support and collaborations that may further support the establishment of state-of-the-art labs, scholarships for aspiring midwives and nurses, and cutting-edge research to address local health challenges. 

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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities and services, go to www.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.

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Uganda Christian University School of Medicine students are (left to right) Peter Kabuye, Richard Ogwal, Ayikoru Hilda Diana, Birungi Beatrice, Ampumuza Davis and Ronnie Mwesigwa (UCU Partners photo)

UCU Year One – School of Medicine Student Reflections


Uganda Christian University School of Medicine students are (left to right) Peter Kabuye, Richard Ogwal, Ayikoru Hilda Diana, Birungi Beatrice, Ampumuza Davis and Ronnie Mwesigwa (UCU Partners photo)
Uganda Christian University School of Medicine students are (left to right) Peter Kabuye, Richard Ogwal, Ayikoru Hilda Diana, Birungi Beatrice, Ampumuza Davis and Ronnie Mwesigwa (UCU Partners photo)

Note: Uganda Christian University (UCU) Partners selected a sample of the UCU School of Medicine inaugural class with feature stories on each in 2018 and the intent for an annual follow up. Here, at the end of two semesters, are edited responses to two questions posed by the Partners team of Brendah Ndagire, Pauline Nyangoma, Douglas Olum, Frank Obonyo, Alex Taremwa and Patty Huston-Holm.

Qn1. What is one new experience?

Mwesigwa Ronnie, surgery and medicine
The new experience I have this semester is the practicals. Also, I am having two more tests before the end of the semester. The lecturer had travelled out of the country, and she just returned. So we are having the tests before we begin our exams the other week (in about two week’s time).

Ampumuza Davis, surgery and medicine
There are plenty of off-putting myths about being a medical student, but in reality, it is enjoyable, interesting and highly rewarding especially in light of what we are working towards. This semester has exposed me so much and ignited me to go beyond the basic lecture material and satisfy my curiosity about what I have been taught especially in anatomy classes. Clearly, I am confident that I will make a crucial difference to my patients.

Beatrice Birungi, surgery and medicine
Towards the end of March, our class had a clinical exposure. It was so amazing to see a mother deliver a baby naturally without going through a caesarian operation. I was very happy because it gave me hope that with skills and commitment, I will save lives of babies and mothers who die in my country due to ill-equipped facilities and poorly trained health workers.

Kabuye Peter, dentistry
Clinical exposure sessions are amazing. We divide ourselves into smaller groups that rotate around the different departments of medicine (medicine, pediatrics, surgery and gynecology and obstetrics) weekly. These sessions enable us to apply our theoretical knowledge.

Richard Ogwal, dentistry
I enjoy clinical exposure (practical sessions) in the hospital wards, the lecturers are friendly and full of words of encouragement, students are cooperative in discussing academic work, and l thank God l am passing the progressive examination tests. Leadership. I have no new roles and responsibilities yet but I am still holding the previous post as the boys’ representative.

Ayikoru Hilda Diana, dentistry
The clinical exposures this semester have been very interesting and helpful in mastering the lectured work. For example, this semester we did embryology and whenever we went to obstetrics and gynecology, the gynecologists showed us the anomalies we learned. One day, we witnessed a mother giving birth to a baby and thereafter studied the placenta. In pediatrics, we were taught how to diagnose on two different occasions. The first time, we were taught about pneumonia and the pediatrician then asked us to try to diagnose and categorize a child who seemed to have the same signs as those of pneumonia. We went through all the procedures from interviewing the parent of the child and looking at the signs he presented. In the end we diagnosed the child with severe pneumonia, which turned out to be wrong. He simply had asthma. On the second occasion, we were taught about diarrhea in infants and repeated the procedure for diagnosis and indeed the child had come to hospital with severe diarrhea with dehydration, but by then she had improved. Without this exposure, I would never have related theory to reality.

Qn2. Other than money, what are two challenges you face now?

Mwesigwa Ronnie, surgery and medicine
My only challenge this semester is the workload. They have introduced us to practicals that we did not have last semester. We have two practicals every week after which we have to write reports. And that means we also have to write two reports every week in addition to the lectures and tests that we may have. That has cut down on the time I would have for reading that would refresh my mind.

Ampumuza Davis, surgery and medicine
I knew being a medical student would involve working harder than I have ever worked in my life, but I didn’t realize how hard that would be. I have a lot other responsibilities alongside my studies that involve looking for school fees and supporting my siblings. Secondly, the school has no sports facilities, gym and much more at the main campus. The school also should work towards acquiring updated textbooks in the library and expand our learning rooms for they are congested.

Beatrice Birungi, surgery and medicine
We have a lot of reading that we barely have time for personal life. This is a challenge because my life is not balanced without the social aspect. However, I am trying to work out my own schedule to ensure that I have a better-balanced life. At the medical school, we still adequate space.  We are 60 in total, and there is no room for reading and in lecture rooms.

Kabuye Peter, dentistry
My first challenge is commuting from home. It is cheaper than staying at the university hostels, but challenges my studies with time on the road. The second challenge is learning space with 60 students in small lecture rooms that are often hot and not air-conditioned.

Richard Ogwal, dentistry
The experience I have had so far has made me realize that medical school is so demanding not only on matters of academic concentration but also on time, scholastic materials and personal requirements. We are still doing mostly medicine-related work as opposed to dentistry, but l am comfortable because there are many similar things that I used to do as a Clinical Officer. With so much academic work, including foundation units, filled with assignments, report writings and recently introduced practical sessions, there’s almost no time for leisure or checking in with my family that expects me to pay tuition for my siblings. It is a stress factor that I am afraid could affect even my performance. We have no facilities for sports that could help lessen the stress.

Ayikoru Hilda Diana, dentistry
There’s so much to do in such a little time in medical school. I have to attend lectures the whole day, find time to write reports, assignments and do personal study. It’s really hard to fit all these in. One week, I had three very long reports to write for biochemistry and physiology practical. I also had two essays to write and a test. I learned not to procrastinate anything, from personal study to assignments because they eventually pile up and become very hard to complete. I also changed my strategies of studying. I discuss more with my classmates to improve understanding. It also is important to actively participate in lectures and labs. For example, dissection for anatomy opens up your mind about a particular topic and saves you some time as you read. The other problem I’ve faced is having enough time for family, friends and fun. Most people assume that I’m always busy and find it unnecessary to invite and inform me, which causes me to feel alone. Going out refreshes my brain. I also ensure that I go to church on Sundays so as to interact with people and my family after the service.

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Those interested in helping students like these become part of the solution to Uganda’s health care system or providing other support to UCU can contact UCU Partners Executive Director Mark Bartels at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org or go to https://www.ugandapartners.org/donate/.

For more of these stories and experiences, visit https://www.ugandapartners.org.

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