The Catholic Church, through the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau (UCMB), has joined forces with Rescue, a Nairobi-based emergency tech company, to improve access to emergency medical services across Uganda.
The initiative was officially launched today with the orientation of Health Unit Management Committees (HUMCs) from lower-level health facilities under the Kampala Archdiocese.
In 2023, Rescue, with funding from DEG, a subsidiary of KfW, the German state-owned development bank, partnered with UCMB to introduce a free ambulance service via the Flayer App.
The app enables clients or health facilities to request a Type B ambulance to transport patients to hospitals, completely free of charge, thanks to DEG’s financial support.
Dr. Ronald Kasyaba, Assistant Executive Secretary at UCMB, acknowledged that although the Emergency Ambulance Call and Dispatch Program was introduced last year, its implementation has been limited.
The follow-up meeting, he said, is aimed at reviving and reinforcing the system for broader adoption across the country.
Isaac Mundeyi, Program Officer at Rescue, revealed that the system is currently operational in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Ghana.
While the initial pilot target was 2,500 dispatches, they have so far achieved 1,800.
In Rwanda, the system has already recorded over 50,000 emergency dispatches, with a target of 150,000 set in the previous year.
Mundeyi added that due to the limited number of ambulances available in the public sector, the initiative has incorporated private ambulance providers to expand service coverage and reach more communities in need.
To further strengthen the initiative, 12 ambulances in the Catholic health network were upgraded, some from Type A to Type B, and others from Type B to Type C, with support from Malteser International, a Germany-based humanitarian organization.
The upgraded ambulances are now operational in critical regions including Gulu, Mbarara, and Kampala, with a special focus on key Catholic hospitals such as Nsambya, Lubaga, Nkozi, Kisubi, and Naggalama.
This partnership marks a significant step forward in enhancing Uganda’s emergency response capacity, particularly in underserved and rural areas, through collaboration, innovation, and community-centered solutions.
By Ben Musanje
24th July 2025
END
