Uganda Blood Transfusion Service (UBTS) is the national blood bank responsible for coordinating blood transfusion, ensuring safety, and supplying blood across Uganda. Established in 1957 and officially commissioned in 2003, UBTS operates as a department within the Ministry of Health. The service is currently headed by Dr. Dorothy Kyeyune and is based at the Nakasero Blood Bank on Nakasero Hill Road, Kampala.
UBTS’s mandate is to collect, test, store, and distribute blood to all accredited blood transfusion facilities in the country. In addition to its core functions, UBTS provides training for staff and health workers, supplying them with equipment, reagents for blood screening, and assay kits necessary for safe transfusion practices. The national blood transfusion policy ensures that these activities adhere to the highest technical and ethical standards.
The organization runs various campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation, targeting schools, universities, communities, and corporate organizations. These efforts aim to increase the number of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors, ensuring a steady supply of safe blood.
Over the years, UBTS has expanded from a service supplying blood primarily in central Uganda to a network comprising eight Regional Blood Banks and six Blood Centres. Collaboration with the Uganda Red Cross Society has further boosted blood collection, leading to an increase in donor numbers.
Despite these achievements, UBTS faces several challenges. The national demand for blood often exceeds supply due to limited resources, especially at Health Centre IV facilities. Additionally, transporting and storing blood in remote areas remains difficult. Misinformation and myths about blood donation have also hindered recruitment efforts, with some potential donors losing interest after negative experiences, such as struggling to obtain blood for a relative despite having a donor card.