In the quiet trading centre of Alwi in Pakwach District, a small health facility that once struggled with just six beds has received a major lifeline, one that is already transforming healthcare for mothers and children in the community.
For years, Alwi Health Centre III faced a difficult reality: men, women and children shared a single inpatient ward, leaving mothers and newborns without the privacy and specialised care they needed. The situation often strained the facility, which served up to 800 patients each month despite its limited infrastructure.
That reality has now changed.
MTN Uganda, through the MTN Foundation, in partnership with the Alur Kingdom and several corporate partners, has commissioned a newly constructed and fully furnished women and children’s ward at the health centre. The project, valued at over Shs 156.6 million, aims to improve maternal and child healthcare services in the area.
The initiative was born out of the 2025 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign, when volunteers visiting the facility identified the urgent need for a dedicated ward for mothers and children.
Today, the new facility stands as a symbol of collaboration. Built with the support of partners including Huawei, GDE, Rak, Enetworks, Soliton, Rontech, Quavatel, Fireside, Coolwave, MTN SACCO, Dynamo, Pavicon, Seagate and Nubly, the ward is equipped with 16 patient beds, IV stands, bedside lockers, privacy screens, oxygen concentrators, suction machines, pulse oximeters and other essential medical equipment.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, MTN Uganda’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, Thomas Motlepa, said the project reflects the company’s broader commitment to supporting communities beyond its telecommunications services.
“This ward is about dignity, safety and quality of care,” Motlepa said. “When a mother is in labour or a child is admitted for treatment, they deserve an environment designed specifically for their needs.”
The impact is already visible. Since improvements at the facility began, the number of patients seeking treatment has significantly increased—from around 700–800 per month to between 2,000 and 2,500—an indication of growing trust in the health centre’s services.
The facility’s location along the busy Pakwach–Arua highway also means it now plays a crucial role in stabilising accident victims before referral to higher-level hospitals.
The women and children’s ward builds on earlier improvements made during the Y’ello Care initiative, including renovation of the facility’s kitchen and sanitation facilities, installation of a rainwater harvesting system, provision of internet-connected computers for patient records, and solar lighting to ensure uninterrupted services during power outages.
Local leaders and health officials say the upgrades have strengthened the health centre’s capacity to serve the community while restoring confidence in public healthcare services.
Across Uganda, MTN Uganda has undertaken similar interventions to address gaps in health infrastructure. These include the construction of Lela Obaro II Health Centre II in Gulu and support to facilities such as Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Aroi Health Centre III in Arua, Amach Health Centre IV in Lira, and Kamukira Health Centre IV in Kabale.
For residents of Alwi and surrounding communities, however, the new ward means something more immediate: a safer, more dignified place for mothers to give birth and for children to receive care—closer to home.
