Soldiers and staff at the Military Police Brigade of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) participated in a blood donation exercise at Military Police Headquarters, supporting the National Blood Bank’s efforts to save lives.
The Political Commissar of the Military Police, Major Bernard Karugaba, praised the initiative: “Donating blood saves millions of lives in Uganda. It is part of the UPDF’s core values and mandate, especially during crises.” He added that blood donation is vital in saving mothers during childbirth and victims of accidents.
Captain Baluka emphasised the ongoing need for blood in the country. “Many people are in urgent need of blood to save their lives. On the battlefield, we also rely on it to save our colleagues,” he said.
Mr Franco Ariho of Mengo Hospital’s Rotary Blood Bank, who led the exercise, commended the turnout of soldiers. “This is my second time leading this exercise at the Military Police, and I am grateful for their participation,” he said, encouraging everyone to donate whenever possible, as the need is constant.
He also urged corporate organisations to mobilise staff for blood donation as part of their corporate social responsibility. According to the World Health Organization, at least 1% of a country’s population should donate blood, yet Uganda falls below this threshold, creating a persistent deficit.
Mr Ariho noted that schools are traditionally a main source of donors, but blood supplies dwindle during holidays, making outreach to other organisations necessary. “Blood donation helps patients survive conditions such as cancer, sickle cell disease, hypertension, and severe bleeding,” he added.
The exercise will continue to other Military Police units in the coming weeks.
