KAMPALA, UGANDA – In a powerful show of corporate social responsibility, Housing Finance Bank (HFB) and Universal M. Enterprises – Affordable Housing Uganda have joined forces once again to strengthen Uganda’s fragile blood supply.
On June 20, 2025, the two partners hosted a community blood donation drive at the HFB Head Office in Kololo. This marks the fourth year of their joint effort to tackle one of Uganda’s most pressing health challenges—severe blood shortages.
The turnout was impressive. HFB customers, employees, and members of the public showed up in large numbers, each contributing to a life-saving cause that supports emergency care, maternal health, accident victims, and patients with chronic illnesses nationwide.
More Than Banking: Saving Lives
John Baptist Kaweesi, Head of Mortgage and Consumer Banking at HFB, made it clear that the bank’s commitment extends beyond financial services.
“We are a bank that cares about our people,” Kaweesi said. “This is not just a corporate event—it’s about saving Ugandan lives.”
In last year’s drive, the bank collected enough blood to potentially save up to 93 lives. This year, they aim to surpass that milestone and expand the impact across the country.
“We are optimistic that hundreds more lives will be saved this year,” Kaweesi added.
Partnerships That Deliver Real Impact
The collaboration with Universal M. Enterprises – Affordable Housing is more than a formality. It’s a model of how businesses can work together for real social change. Muffadal Yeolawala, Managing Director at Universal M., emphasized the importance of this long-standing partnership.
“We are proud to work hand in hand with Housing Finance Bank,” Yeolawala said. “Our relationship goes beyond housing. We are committed to building stronger, healthier communities.”
The success of this initiative reflects the power of cross-sector partnerships, where financial institutions, housing developers, and medical organizations pool their resources to address national health emergencies.
Uganda’s Blood Crisis: Why It Matters
Uganda faces an ongoing blood supply crisis. Blood shortages put thousands of lives at risk, particularly in emergency surgeries, childbirth complications, and accident response. The Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) relies heavily on voluntary donors to meet the national demand.
Events like the HFB and Universal M. blood drive are crucial. Every unit of donated blood is processed by UBTS and sent to hospitals across the country, strengthening the national blood reserve and supporting Uganda’s broader healthcare goals.
A Long-Term Commitment to Health
This is not a one-time gesture. Housing Finance Bank has already committed to future blood drives and is planning additional community health campaigns in the coming years.
Their goal is to build a culture of regular blood donation while driving meaningful community impact.
For Uganda, where health systems are often stretched thin, partnerships like these can make the difference between life and death.
