History of St. Ambrose Charity Health Centre & About Rev. Fr. Joseph Birungi

When I joined the minor seminary of our diocese to start my long journey of training to become a priest in the year 1972, I learnt that all seminarians are given special duties to carry out as community service. Some friends of mine were asked to be time keepers, compound attendants, dormitory leaders, in charge of food, music operators, class captains, to mention but a few. On my part I was asked to be an infirmary (the student in charge of the sick). I did this work for two years and enjoyed it.

When I joined the major seminary later on, I found a similar set up of special duties given to all seminarians. Surprisingly, I was again asked to be an infirmarian. This time I found it even easier than before as I had acquired some “hands on” skills in health care already in the minor seminary. I remember one day, a visiting Bishop at the seminary had stomach up set and he was directed to me for treatment. I gave him some magnesium tablets which gave him a quick relief.  After he had returned to his diocese he wrote back a small appreciation note which I still keep up to now. I felt very encouraged in my work to have given an effective medication to a whole Bishop as a mere seminarian.

When I became a priest in 1983, I started thinking about the available opportunities for me to continue offering health services to the people.

As a young pastor in my parish I spotted two small rooms near the rectory which I decided to renovate and use them as a clinic for the start. I did not have enough money to buy the medicines and other requirements to start with. I appealed to my Christians to contribute food stuffs and anything else I could sell and get money to buy medicines. The parishioners could not afford cash donations. The response was good and I was able to raise some good amount of money to buy some medicines and other requirements for the start. I employed one nurse who worked everyday; seven days a week and at times throughout the night as the demand was so much.

It did not take me long to observe that the need for medication in the area and the region was so great. I started praying to God to enlighten me on more avenues as to how I could start a better facility to offer better services.

In the year 2000, I visited some friends in the United States of America for about 3 months. While I was there, I shared my dream with some friends. They welcomed the idea and supported me with little funding wanting to put up a small dispensary only for outpatients.

In the year 2001 we started collecting local building materials in a humble way and the donations I had acquired enabled me to put up two blocks; the outpatients’ wing and one in-patients’ wing. On the 2^nd June 2003, on the eve of the Uganda Martyrs day celebrations, we officially started operating the clinic with two nurses, three nursing assistants, one clinician, one laboratory assistant, three cleaners; a total of eleven people.

Our Name:

The first donations we received towards the construction of the clinic were mainly from St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania. And we decided to name our clinic after the same saint; “St. Ambrose.” Since then the facility has taken a different shape. Every year that passes we have registered a number of achievements coupled with challenges.

Needless to say we have made a difference in the health sector in the area and in Uganda at large. The facility has so far saved many lives and without which many would have been lost.

I personally thank God the Almighty who constantly inspires people of generous hands to donate towards the running of the clinic. I pray that the Good Lord rewards them abundantly.

– Rev. Fr. Joseph Birungi