By KAMPALA; The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, on Friday commissioned the Henry K. Grameen Hospital in Suna Zone, Kabowa Parish, Rubaga Division. The facility, valued at sh400 million, was built entirely from savings contributed by members of the Grameen Women’s Development Initiative.
Construction of the hospital began in May 2023, supported by an initial sh100 million seed capital donation from Mrs. Museveni to boost household income. According to a statement from her office, the initiative has since grown to over 20,400 members, expanding its assets to more than sh4.2 billion, with women saving sh5,000 daily.
Mrs. Museveni said the completion of the hospital reflected the transformative power of unity, disciplined saving and women-led development. She encouraged the group to extend their work beyond Rubaga to other parts of Kampala and eventually nationwide.
She explained that the Grameen model pioneered by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus was designed to lift the poorest women out of poverty through low-interest, collateral-free credit. She praised the Rubaga women for proving that development can begin at household level through consistent savings and mutual support.
The First Lady also urged young people to embrace work, responsibility and national unity, saying poverty and disease remain Africa’s biggest threats. She encouraged communities to take advantage of government programmes and pledged continued mobilisation in Rubaga.
Earlier at Kitebi Secondary School, where she handed over a new Scania school bus, Mrs. Museveni commended students for their discipline despite heavy afternoon rain. She encouraged them to uphold patriotism, focus on their studies and work hard.
The Minister of State for Luwero Rwenzori, Alice K. Kaboyo, noted that she first witnessed the initiative’s rapid growth during the 2024 Grameen Annual Leaders’ Conference, where membership stood at 16,423. Since then, the number has risen to more than 20,400, with the project expanding skills training programmes in basket weaving, soap making, catering and beverage production. Kaboyo said the group has also helped many women acquire titled land for long-term family security.
Rubaga Division Speaker and founder of the initiative, Musa Mbaziira, thanked Mrs. Museveni for the seed funding that launched the project. He reported that women are now running businesses, owning land and earning from skills such as bookbinding, juice processing and lotion production. The initiative has so far issued over sh1.5 billion in low-interest loans, awarded at least 1,500 bursaries, and formed the Grameen Students Association, which has 16,000 members.
Kitebi Secondary School headteacher Hajj Kamulegeya Muhammad said the school has registered significant progress since Mrs. Museveni’s first visit in 2024, including increased enrolment to 4,500 students, recognition as a UNEB marking centre, and improvements in infrastructure and administration. He said the community was honoured to host the First Lady again.
