Markson Jacob Oboth, the Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, led hundreds of participants in a charity run organized by CURE Children’s Hospital. According to Nile Post, the event aimed to gather funds for medical supplies and sustain the facility’s specialized neurosurgical services. Oboth appealed for increased backing for children needing complex brain operations, noting the hospital’s role in making such care accessible to families with limited financial resources. He was accompanied by Lydia Wanyoto, the State Minister for Public Service, along with lawmakers from the Bugisu area and various corporate partners.
Oboth described his involvement as a way to reciprocate the hospital’s previous assistance, recalling that he had once brought a patient there for treatment. Several sponsors contributed significant sums during the event. Patrick Cameron of Biyinzika Farmers secured Shs 150 million, while the Parliamentary Commission of Uganda provided Shs 50 million. The Office of the First Lady added Shs 20 million. The Nandala Foundation and Mountain Inn were acknowledged for their contributions, with a pledge of Shs 175 million over five years to support ongoing operations.
Tim Erickson, the hospital’s executive director, thanked partners for their decade-long support. He noted that CURE has performed roughly 31,000 brain surgeries since its inception. Erickson compared costs, stating that similar procedures in Europe or Nairobi might reach US$10,000, whereas CURE averages Shs 7.8 million, or roughly US$2,000. He observed, “That’s somewhere around $2,000, right?”, highlighting the substantial cost difference. Nile Post notes these figures are estimates and may vary by procedure.
The run marked its tenth edition, with fundraising growing from Shs 10 million in 2015 to Shs 640 million in 2025. Erickson expressed hope that current momentum would help the hospital approach a target of over Shs 1 billion. The funds support treatment for conditions such as spina bifida, a birth defect affecting the spinal column, and hydrocephalus, which involves excess fluid in the brain. Early intervention through these subsidized surgeries aims to improve outcomes for affected children.