The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has launched a nationwide blood donation drive, targeting 3,000 units of blood to support patients in need of transfusions.
The campaign, organised in partnership with the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) and the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service (UBTS), is part of UEDCL’s 2026 Customer Service Month, running under the theme, “The Extra Mile”.
UEDCL Managing Director Joselynne R. Rwabwogo said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to serving communities beyond its core responsibility of distributing electricity.
“While our core responsibility is to distribute electricity and improve the reliability of supply, our commitment to the communities we serve goes beyond. Through this blood donation drive, we are taking the extra mile by contributing to a cause that directly saves lives,” Rwabwogo said.
She acknowledged that unreliable power supply remains a concern for customers, adding that the company is undertaking interventions to improve electricity distribution and service delivery.
“We recognise that our customers expect reliable electricity, and a responsive service. We are working to strengthen our distribution network through substation upgrades, refurbishment of distribution lines and improvements in outage response and restoration,” she said.
Rwabwogo said the company remained aware of the challenges customers continue to face and was committed to making improvements.
“Going the extra mile means listening to our customers, acting on their concerns and demonstrating, through our actions, that their well-being matters to us,” she added.
Blood is essential in treating accident victims, mothers experiencing complications during childbirth, children with severe anaemia and patients undergoing surgery and other medical procedures. Voluntary donations are therefore critical to maintaining supplies for patients who need timely transfusions.
Uganda Red Cross Society Secretary General Robert Kwesiga said the partnership was intended to encourage more Ugandans to embrace blood donation as an act of solidarity and community service.
“Blood donation is one of the most direct and meaningful ways individuals can help save lives. Every day, patients require blood for emergencies, childbirth complications, surgery and the treatment of serious illnesses,” Kwesiga said.
He urged eligible Ugandans to donate, noting that blood collected today could save a patient's life in the future.
The Uganda Blood Transfusion Service, which is responsible for collecting, testing and supplying blood for transfusion, will provide technical support to ensure safe blood collection during the campaign.
The service emphasised the importance of regular voluntary donations, noting that blood cannot be manufactured and must be obtained from willing donors.
It also called on public and private institutions to support blood donation campaigns to expand the pool of regular donors and ensure patients can access safe blood when needed.
The drive will involve mobilisation across UEDCL’s 15 territories, including Mukono, Kampala Metro, Bombo, Entebbe, Nakulabye, Lira, Jinja, Mbale, Gulu, Kitgum, Mbarara, Hoima, Fort Portal, Masaka and Kabale.
Through the initiative, UEDCL aims to translate its Customer Service Month theme, “The Extra Mile”, into action by contributing to a public health need while continuing efforts to improve electricity distribution and customer service.