The journey commenced in Hoima, where I embarked on a remarkable expedition to Mama Tulia’s home in Kitalangu, Kansanga. Upon arrival at 9:30 PM on Wednesday night, I was warmly welcomed by Mama Tulia and her hospitable family. Soon after, Shamim and Janet joined us at around 10:30 PM, marking the beginning of a memorable evening. We shared a delightful dinner together, accompanied by the company of Isabelle, Peter, and his family.

Graciously, Mama Tulia provided us with a cozy guest rooms for the night.

The break of dawn marked our departure from Isabelle’s home at 4:17 AM, as we set our sights towards Bwera. Mr. Peter Muhindi, husband to Isabelle, took the wheel, chauffeuring our group of six, including Peter, Isabelle, Shamim, Peace, Janet, and myself. Before embarking on our journey, Janet led us in prayers, setting a tone of unity and faith.
Our route took us through the picturesque landscapes of Mubende town, where we paused briefly at Simon’s Food Place to procure breakfast essentials. As we resumed our journey at 9:30 AM, the verdant maize plantations and bustling charcoal trade of Mubende left a lasting impression.

Mr. Peter, an Electrical Engineer, shed light on the patience required in cultivating eucalyptus trees, essential for electricity poles. He emphasized their maturity period of 15-20 years, underscoring Uganda’s reliance on imported poles from Tanzania due to domestic scarcity.
Our journey through Kyenjojo and Kyegegwa led us to Fortportal by 11:30 AM. Enroute, we marveled at Queen Elizabeth National Park, renowned for its diverse wildlife. Named after Queen Elizabeth in 1954, the park boasts varied habitats and is a top Uganda wildlife destination.
Passing the Kibuku Irrigation Scheme and Tooro Kingdom Palace, adorned with lion statues, added to the picturesque scenery.

Relatedly, we passed the road leading to Kaseese Cobalt Mines, arriving in Kaseese town by 12:20 PM. Finally, our expedition culminated at Bwera Hospital around 1:30 PM, where we were greeted by Sister Doreen, the dedicated Incharge of the NICU, and Dr. Ignatius Nasasira, the diligent Intern Doctor.NICU Visit and ROP Screening
Our mission at Bwera Hospital commenced with ROP screenings for 20 infants at the NICU.Disturbingly, 4 infants were diagnosed with ROP, with 3 requiring urgent treatment within two weeks, underscoring the pressing need for intervention. This revelation set the incidence of treatment-requiring ROP in Bwera NICU at 15% as of May 2024. We need to investigate the possibility of offering ROP treatment directly at Bwera Hospital since the distance between Bwera and Kampala poses significant challenges for the safe transport of preterm babies to and from the facility.

Mama Tulia’s team, committed to community welfare, conducted health education sessions for expectant mothers, generously donating Kangaroo and Ambu bags to the NICU. Concluding the ROP screenings by 5:20 PM, we immortalized the moment with photographs, capturing the essence of our impactful visit. Subsequently, Mr. Peter graciously chauffeured us to the Link Bus Park by 5:45 PM, where I bid farewell to the Mama Tulia team, expressing gratitude for their invaluable contribution to Bwera Hospital.

On return we were on board at 8:15 PM, arriving at Busega by 5:30AM of Friday 24th May 2024. From there, I secured a taxi to Entebbe, reaching my destination by 7:20 AM, concluding an enriching journey filled with meaningful encounters and impactful interventions.

In remembrance, Mama Tulia’s expedition to Bwera stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, compassion, and community-driven initiatives in fostering positive change within healthcare landscapes.

Mama Tulia organization was founded in 2017 by Esabelle Furaha and is dedicated to supporting vulnerable mothers with premature babies, addressing their physical, economic, spiritual and emotional needs. One of Mama Tulia’s key initiatives is collaborating with health professionals to enhance ROP screening programs.
Dr Iddi Ndyabawe is the pioneer of ROP research in Uganda, being an Ophthalmologist and ROP expert, he conducted the first ever ROP study in Uganda from August 2022 to October 2022 which was published in BMC Ophthalmology.

Relatedly his dedication to advancing ROP research led him to pursue a specialized course on the management of ROP and Paediatric Retinal diseases at the Aravind eye hospital India in October 2023 making him the first Ugandan to receive this certification.

Written by dr. Iddi Ndyabawe on Friday 24th May 2024 with extracts from Mama Tulia Organization website. www.mamatulia.org