William Whyte, a 79-year-old man from Scotland, gave 2.5 billion Ugandan shillings to build a new maternity center at Nakasongola Health Center. Whyte worked as a boat skipper in Fraserburgh, the biggest shellfish port in Scotland. He runs the Oor Bairns Charitable Trust, which makes money by recycling steel, scrap metal, and old fishing nets. His trust pays for helpful projects across Uganda.
He already helped start a farm and brought clean drinking water to local people. In 2021, he sent two ultrasound machines to Nakasongola to help pregnant women. The health center needs help because it delivers about 200 babies every month with just 16 beds. Many new mothers must leave only hours after giving birth because the place stays overcrowded.
Dr. Agaba Byamukama, the district health officer, asked Whyte for help with this growing problem. Whyte agreed and donated 2.5 billion shillings from his savings in October 2024. The money pays for building a modern 42-bed maternity ward. Construction has already started and should finish before next year ends.
Livingstone Sseruyange runs the company building the facility. Construction is moving well and should be finished by September 2025. The new building will have a maternity ward, care units for newborns, a children's ward, two operating rooms, spaces for isolation and high-dependency patients, and rooms for doctors.
Local representatives, Noah Mutebi and Victoria Zawedde, thanked Whyte for his kindness. Mutebi pointed out that the government still needs to provide equipment since the donation only covers the building costs. Minister Lilian Aber visited the construction site and praised Whyte for helping Uganda's health system. She promised to tell the Health Minister and Prime Minister about the need for equipment.
Whyte believes every penny from recycling nets should help people. Fishing treated him well, and he wants to support those less fortunate. Beyond healthcare, he used money from recycled fishing nets to buy solar panels and pumps. These provide fresh running water at Hope Village, Bethel High School, and The Oor Bairns Farm in Nakasongola.
Whyte began helping people in Uganda after he volunteered at an orphanage through an Irish charity called New Beginnings. During that time, he connected with a local high school. This started his long commitment to helping Ugandan communities.
He already helped start a farm and brought clean drinking water to local people. In 2021, he sent two ultrasound machines to Nakasongola to help pregnant women. The health center needs help because it delivers about 200 babies every month with just 16 beds. Many new mothers must leave only hours after giving birth because the place stays overcrowded.
Dr. Agaba Byamukama, the district health officer, asked Whyte for help with this growing problem. Whyte agreed and donated 2.5 billion shillings from his savings in October 2024. The money pays for building a modern 42-bed maternity ward. Construction has already started and should finish before next year ends.
Livingstone Sseruyange runs the company building the facility. Construction is moving well and should be finished by September 2025. The new building will have a maternity ward, care units for newborns, a children's ward, two operating rooms, spaces for isolation and high-dependency patients, and rooms for doctors.
Local representatives, Noah Mutebi and Victoria Zawedde, thanked Whyte for his kindness. Mutebi pointed out that the government still needs to provide equipment since the donation only covers the building costs. Minister Lilian Aber visited the construction site and praised Whyte for helping Uganda's health system. She promised to tell the Health Minister and Prime Minister about the need for equipment.
Whyte believes every penny from recycling nets should help people. Fishing treated him well, and he wants to support those less fortunate. Beyond healthcare, he used money from recycled fishing nets to buy solar panels and pumps. These provide fresh running water at Hope Village, Bethel High School, and The Oor Bairns Farm in Nakasongola.
Whyte began helping people in Uganda after he volunteered at an orphanage through an Irish charity called New Beginnings. During that time, he connected with a local high school. This started his long commitment to helping Ugandan communities.
