Strengthening Rural Maternal Healthcare Through Sustainable Energy

The Rural Smiles Foundation recently held a successful project inception meeting with Kibaale District leadership, marking the official start of the Solar Energy and Capacity Building for Rural Maternity Health Centres in Kibaale District, Uganda (SolarMCH) project. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the District Health Officer (DHO), district technical staff, and in-charges from the beneficiary health centres Mugarama Health Centre III, Bubango Health Centre II, Nyamarwa Health Centre II, and Kyebando Health Centre III.

This initiative, supported by the URBIS Foundation (Germany), aims to install reliable solar energy systems in maternity health centres while building local technical capacity to ensure sustainability. The project is expected to improve maternal and neonatal healthcare services, strengthen vaccine storage systems, and reduce dependence on unreliable grid power and costly diesel generators.

Strong Support from District Leadership

During the meeting, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kibaale District expressed appreciation for Rural Smiles Foundation’s initiative, acknowledging the importance of partnerships that address critical health system challenges. He thanked the organization for conceptualizing the project and emphasized the need for vigilance among district health teams to ensure the project achieves its intended objectives. His remarks underscored the district’s commitment to accountability, sustainability, and collaborative implementation.

The District Health Officer (DHO) also welcomed the project enthusiastically, noting the long-standing engagement between his office and Rural Smiles Foundation since 2024. He highlighted the significant effort invested by the Foundation in preparing, refining, and qualifying for the URBIS Foundation grant. According to the DHO, this dedication reflects both organizational commitment and a genuine understanding of local health needs.

He further assured full cooperation from the District Health Office, pledging to work closely with Rural Smiles Foundation throughout the project lifecycle  from initial implementation through monitoring, evaluation, and sustainability planning.

The DHO (first from right), the CAO (Second from right), the DISO and DCDO during the project inception meeting

A Project Rooted in Partnership and Sustainability

Beyond infrastructure installation, the SolarMCH project places strong emphasis on capacity building and sustainability. Three Trainers of Trainers (ToT) from Rural Smiles Foundation will receive specialized solar training, enabling them to support system maintenance and train health facility staff. This approach ensures that technical knowledge remains within the community long after the initial project phase.

The collaboration between Rural Smiles Foundation, district authorities, health facility teams, and international partners reflects a shared vision: strengthening rural health systems through clean energy solutions that are both sustainable and locally owned.

Looking Ahead

With implementation officially underway, the focus now shifts to technical training, procurement planning, and continued stakeholder engagement. The project represents an important step toward safer maternal healthcare services, resilient rural health infrastructure, and increased adoption of renewable energy solutions in underserved communities.

Rural Smiles Foundation remains committed to working hand in hand with district leadership, healthcare providers, communities, and partners to ensure that the SolarMCH project delivers meaningful, lasting impact for the people of Kibaale District.