About Us
The Program
Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury that affects thousands of women in Uganda, leaving them isolated, shamed, and unable to live full lives. Launched in 2024 at Surgical Centre Mbarara with generous support from the Fistula Foundation, our program has become a lifeline: free, routine screening and surgery at the heart of South Western Uganda, healing bodies, dignity, and futures.
Our skilled Ugandan surgical team delivers high‑quality repairs every day at zero cost to patients. Partnering with the Uganda Ministry of Health and local community advocates, we’re tackling obstetric fistula through accessible treatment, prevention education, and lasting system change.
Who We Are
A private surgical home for South Western Uganda since 1990
Surgical Centre Mbarara is a private health facility located in Mbarara City, Uganda. It was started in 1990 and provides both general surgery and urology surgical care. The facility is run by two general surgeons who are both sub specialized in urology. It has a 17-bed capacity for admissions, 2 consultation/e amination rooms, two operating theatres and a recovery room, a laboratory and imaging unit.
The Centre employs about 25 staff in different departments. Surgical Centre Mbarara is the only private urology facility in the whole southwestern region of Uganda and has served this huge population of about 9 million effectively for over 30 years. It continues to strive to remain the best urology surgical facility and holds greatly the values of compassion, integrity, commitment, high quality care, and collaboration.
What Guides Us
Five values, held every day in every theatre
Compassion
Every patient is treated with warmth, patience, and respect.
Dignity
We restore not just health, but a woman's place in her family and community.
Integrity
Transparent, ethical care, and honest use of every donor shilling.
Excellence
High surgical standards, every day, at zero cost to the patient.
Collaboration
Partnering with the Ministry of Health, local leaders, and community health workers.
Vision - What We Want to Become
A future where routine, free fistula surgery is accessible to all women, restoring health, dignity, and hope across communities.
Mission - What We're Here to Do
To restore health, dignity, and hope to women affected by obstetric fistula by providing free, high-quality surgical repair services, strengthening local healthcare systems, and raising awareness to prevent future cases
What Makes Us Different
Care that doesn't wait for the next camp
Most fistula treatment in Uganda happens through periodic surgical camps that visit a region for a few weeks at a time. We are different: our surgeries happen every day, year‑round, at a permanent, fully‑equipped facility - so a woman never has to wait months for care to reach her district. Combined with our zero-cost promise (surgery, medicine, transport, meals, and lodging) and our local, Ugandan-led surgical team, this makes care faster, more dignified, and more sustainable.
Free Surgery
Free Medicine
Free Transport
Free Meals
Free Lodging
Leaders making the difference
About Our Founders
Fistula Care at Surgical Centre Mbarara is made possible through the generous support of the Fistula Foundation, a global organization dedicated to ending the suffering caused by obstetric fistula. Their partnership allows us to offer every service – screening, surgery, recovery, transport, and meals – completely free to every patient who walks through our doors.