Hope under construction in Uganda: Cathyline’s story

Imagine a world where the trillions of dollars spent on public contracts better serve people and protect our planet. For Cathyline, a mother and small business owner in Buhanda village, Uganda, government decisions are not abstract policies; they are her daily realities. Like billions of others worldwide, her life is deeply shaped by the actions or inactions of her government. The food on her table, the healthcare her community relies on, and her children’s survival depend on these decisions.

In Buhanda, the government set out to upgrade the local health center—Buhanda Health Centre II—to Health Centre III. The centerpiece of this upgrade is a new maternity ward offering hope to families like Cathyline’s. For years, women had to travel long distances for basic maternity care, from pregnancy tests and antenatal visits to safe childbirth and immunizations. A maternity ward in Buhanda would bring these vital services closer to home and could change the lives of countless women and children.

Yet, this promise was nearly broken. The contractor, a politically connected figure, used substandard materials and poor construction practices, putting the new facility at risk of structural failure. Happy Andrew, a community monitor with the Rwenzori Anti-Corruption Coalition (RAC), used open contracting data from the Government Procurement Portal to amplify the concerns of residents who were too fearful to speak out. This sparked investigations and today, work has resumed with quality materials in place. The project is on track to fulfill its promise to people like Cathyline, bringing hope and care where it matters most.