VICE PRESIDENT ALUPO COMMISSIONS SHS 6.3 BILLION SOROTI REGIONAL BLOOD BANK

By Abraham Ekwaru, Communication Officer Soroti

Vice President, Maj. (Rtd.) Jessica Rose Alupo Epel, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, officially commissioned the Soroti Regional Blood Bank, a state-of-the-art health facility expected to transform healthcare delivery across Teso and neighboring regions.

The blood bank, located at Arapai in Soroti, was constructed at a cost of Shs 6.3 billion by Geses (U) Ltd, with works commencing in 2021. The project is part of government’s wider effort to improve access to quality healthcare services in rural communities.

The Vice President was accompanied by the Minister of Teso Affairs, Dr. Kenneth Ongalo Obote, and the state minister for Works, Musa Ecweru. Together with local leaders and community members, they toured the facility before joining residents for the launch ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Vice President Alupo described the new facility as a “life-saver” for the people of Teso and beyond.

“This investment is not only about saving lives, but it is also a social and economic catalyst,” she said. “It will strengthen healthcare delivery, create jobs, and reduce the burden of long-distance travel for patients and their families.”

She reassured Ugandans of government’s continued commitment to improving the health sector, emphasizing that the blood bank would end the region’s reliance on Mbale and Kampala for blood supply. The facility will instead provide timely collection, screening, storage, and distribution of blood products.

The Soroti Regional Blood Bank is expected to serve more than two million people across Teso and neighboring districts.

Dr. Alfred Anyonga, Soroti City Health Officer, hailed the facility as a major step toward reducing mortality rates, especially among mothers, accident victims, and children suffering from severe malaria.

Meanwhile, Dr. Dorothy Kyeyune, Executive Director of the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service (UBTS), revealed that the country still faces a severe shortage of blood despite growing demand.

“Uganda requires about 1,000 units of blood daily, yet we face a shortfall of nearly 1,300 units every day,” Dr. Kyeyune noted, calling for increased community participation in blood donation drives.

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