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Citizen Posts
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Kampala Uganda:- MTN Uganda has today taken its flagship staff volunteerism initiative, the 21 Days of Y’ello Care, to the Alur Kingdom in Pakwach District, intensifying its commitment to community development with a focus on healthcare, digital inclusion, and youth empowerment.
Held under the theme “Connecting at the Roots – Connecting Communities through Digital Tools”, the 2025 campaign aims to bridge Uganda’s digital divide by equipping underserved communities with tools and knowledge to unlock socio-economic transformation at the grassroots.
The Alwi Health Centre III in Alur Kingdom served as the hub of today’s activities, bringing together cultural leaders, government officials, health workers, and corporate partners including ATC Uganda, Tecno Uganda, Ayo, Maendeleo Foundation, and Clinic Pesa. The event was graced by the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Prince Vincent Ochaya Orach, who represented His Majesty the Paramount Chief of Alur, His Royal Highness Rwoth Ubimu Phillip Rauni III.
“We are deeply grateful to MTN Uganda and its partners for choosing Alur Kingdom as part of this meaningful national initiative,” said His Royal Highness. “This is not just about technology or health infrastructure; it’s about restoring hope and dignity to our people especially our youth and young mothers.”
To improve healthcare service delivery at Alwi Health Centre III, MTN Uganda staff and partners renovated the facility’s kitchen and sanitation blocks, installed a rainwater harvesting system, donated hospital beds, and planted trees to enhance the environment and sustainability. In partnership with ATC Uganda, solar lighting was also installed to ensure a steady power supply; crucial during childbirth and emergency cases.
In a significant digital milestone, MTN Uganda handed over eight internet-connected computers to the health centre to enhance patient records management and medical research access.
“This support is more than we hoped for,” said Hadijja Aliku, the in-charge at Alwi Health Centre III. “With improved lighting, better facilities, and now computers for digital health records, we are better equipped to provide quality care, especially to expectant mothers and young girls who need it most.”
Recognizing that true community development requires inclusive economic empowerment, MTN also donated two computers to the Pakwach Art and Craft Association –a youth-led initiative that will now leverage internet access and MoMo Market to promote and sell local crafts to a wider audience.
Further demonstrating its commitment to education and youth development, Tecno Uganda, one of MTN’s partners, is supporting the construction of a football pitch in Nebbi District. The facility is intended to offer young people a safe and positive space to build life skills, teamwork, and leadership through sports.
“This campaign is not just an act of charity,” said Sylvia Mulinge, MTN Uganda CEO, who led the delegation. “It is a deliberate investment in Uganda’s future, connecting people at the roots, addressing the causes of child marriage, school dropout, and poverty through technology, education, and empowerment.”
Dorothy Ssemanda, CEO of ATC Uganda, echoed similar sentiments: “We are honoured to partner with MTN Uganda for this year’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care initiative. It goes beyond powering connectivity to investing in infrastructure that directly improves healthcare, education, and sustainability, particularly in in rural and underserved areas,” she said.
“When we say infrastructure should serve people, this is exactly what we mean. Today, we celebrate not just what we’ve built, but the lives that will be transformed because of it.”
Child marriage remains a pressing issue in the Alur kingdom, with Alwi Health Centre III reporting that more than half of all new births are to girls under the age of 18. MTN Uganda and its partners aim to reverse this trend through community awareness, digital learning, and strengthening social infrastructure.
This latest development builds on MTN Uganda’s growing partnership with the Alur Kingdom, including ongoing efforts to use sports as a platform for raising awareness about child marriage and teenage pregnancy.
MTN’s ongoing collaboration with cultural institutions including the Alur, Tooro, and Busoga Kingdoms, and the Nnabagereka Development Foundation , underscores a holistic approach to national development that integrates health, education, and enterprise support with Uganda’s cultural heritage.
Across the country, similar 21 Days of Y’ello Care activations are being held in Kampala in partnership with the Kampala Capital City Authority, in the greater central region with the Nnabagereka Development Foundation, in western Uganda with the Tooro Kingdom, and in the eastern region with the Busoga Kingdom. In total, over UGX 500 million is being invested in this year’s campaign, supporting initiatives in health, agribusiness, education, and digital inclusion.
Now in its 18th year, 21 Days of Y’ello Care aligns with MTN Uganda’s broader Ambition 2025 strategy to drive digital and financial inclusion as a foundation for sustainable development.
“Our vision is simple but profound,” Mulinge added. “We believe that by providing access to the right digital tools, even the most rural communities can unlock opportunity, dignity, and prosperity. That is the true power of connecting at the roots.”
