St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso and Smile Train Celebrate World Smile Day with Cleft Patients, Promote Free Surgeries
WAKISO, UGANDA — October 2, 2026 — St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso, in partnership with Smile Train, celebrated World Smile Day with patients who have received free cleft lip and palate surgeries at the hospital, while also welcoming new patients seeking free surgical treatment.
The colourful celebration brought together patients and their families, healthcare professionals, community leaders and representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Buganda Kingdom to celebrate the power of smiles, raise awareness about cleft lip and palate, and encourage more families to seek treatment.
The event was marked by a lively marching band procession that lasted more than an hour. The procession started at the hospital, moved through Wakiso Town Council and returned to St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso, taking the message of hope, inclusion and awareness about cleft conditions into the wider community.
The celebration also featured speeches from government and cultural leaders, patient testimonies, nutrition education, a Smile Wall activity.
Ministry of Health Commends St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso and Smile Train
The Chief Guest, Dr. Richard Kabanda, Commissioner for Health Promotion, Education and Communication at the Ministry of Health, commended St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso and Smile Train for working together to improve access to cleft lip and palate care.
In his remarks, Dr. Kabanda highlighted the importance of creating awareness about cleft lip and palate so that parents and caregivers understand that children born with these conditions can receive appropriate medical and surgical care.
He emphasized the role of health promotion and communication in ensuring that communities receive accurate information about available healthcare services. He encouraged families not to hide children born with cleft conditions because of fear, stigma or misconceptions, but instead to seek professional medical advice and appropriate treatment.
Dr. Kabanda also recognised the contribution of St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso and its healthcare team in bringing specialised services closer to the community. He appreciated the hospital’s commitment to working with partners such as Smile Train to make treatment accessible to families who may otherwise struggle to afford specialised cleft surgery.
He noted that initiatives such as this demonstrate the importance of collaboration between government, healthcare institutions, development partners, cultural institutions and communities in addressing health needs.
Dr. Kabanda particularly recognised Dr. Nicholas Mugagga and the team at St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso for their commitment to serving the community and for supporting an initiative that is helping children and adults living with cleft lip and palate regain confidence and improve their quality of life.
His remarks reinforced the Ministry of Health’s broader message that health promotion is not only about treating disease, but also about ensuring that people know where to find care and feel supported to seek it.
Buganda Kingdom Highlights the Importance of Community Support
Also in attendance was Owek. Israel Kitooke Kazibwe, Minister of Information and Spokesperson for the Buganda Kingdom, who commended St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso, Smile Train and the healthcare workers involved in the programme.
Owek. Israel reflected on the growth of St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso, recalling the hospital’s earlier and smaller setup at its previous location and noting the transformation and expansion that has taken place over the years.
He recognised the hospital not only for its growth in infrastructure and services, but also for its continued focus on serving the community.
Speaking about the cleft initiative, Owek. Israel highlighted the importance of cultural and community institutions supporting programmes that directly benefit families, particularly children who may face stigma or difficulty accessing specialised healthcare.
He acknowledged the contribution of the Buganda Kingdom in promoting awareness and supporting initiatives that improve the wellbeing of communities, noting that healthcare is a shared responsibility that requires the involvement of different stakeholders.
He encouraged parents whose children are born with cleft lip and palate to seek medical assistance and take advantage of the free surgical services available through the partnership between St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso and Smile Train.
He also encouraged more organisations, institutions and individuals to join efforts aimed at supporting vulnerable members of society.
His message emphasised the importance of ensuring that children born with cleft lip and palate are given an opportunity to receive treatment, attend school, participate in their communities and grow up without being defined by their condition.
Smile Train Highlights Sustainable Cleft Care
Audrey Linda, Programs Assistant Smile Train, attended the celebrations and spoke about the significance of World Smile Day and the partnership with St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso.
She highlighted Smile Train’s approach of supporting local healthcare professionals and institutions to provide sustainable cleft care within communities.
She explained that the partnership goes beyond surgery by supporting a broader approach to cleft care, including awareness, patient support, nutrition and follow-up.
The partnership between Smile Train and St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso continues to help connect children and adults living with cleft lip and palate to specialised care while strengthening the capacity of local healthcare teams.
Diana Bakuyita Calls for More Support for Children and People with Albinism
The celebrations also brought together Diana Bakuyita, co-founder and Business Manager of Mama Mzungu and co-founder of Women and Children with Albinism in Uganda (WACWAU).
Diana appreciated Smile Train for partnering with St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso to support people who may otherwise face significant barriers to accessing specialised healthcare, particularly children born with cleft lip and palate.
She noted that initiatives that restore smiles and confidence among children and adults demonstrate what can be achieved when organisations come together to support people who need care.
Diana also spoke about her work supporting people with albinism in Uganda and called upon more stakeholders to join efforts aimed at improving the wellbeing, inclusion and opportunities of people with albinism.
Her participation highlighted a wider message from the event: that healthcare and social support require collective responsibility, and that vulnerable members of society benefit when communities, organisations, government and private institutions work together.
Patients Share Stories of Hope and Transformation
One of the most touching moments of the celebration was hearing testimonies from patients who had received treatment through the programme.
Among them was Angella Nyamwiza, who shared how she discovered St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso through TikTok.
She explained that after learning about the services through the hospital’s social media platform, she contacted the hospital administrator and was guided through the necessary steps to access the free surgical programme.
Angella expressed appreciation to the hospital team, particularly Sister Shakira and the theatre team, for the care and support she received throughout her treatment journey.
Her story demonstrated how digital platforms can help connect patients to information about healthcare services and treatment opportunities.
The patient testimonies served as a reminder that behind every smile is a personal story of courage, support, treatment and renewed confidence.
Dr. Nicholas Mugagga Reaffirms Commitment to Free Cleft Surgery
Dr. Nicholas Mugagga, Executive Director of St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso, thanked Smile Train for its continued partnership and support in making cleft lip and palate treatment accessible to patients.
He also recognised the contribution of the Ministry of Health in promoting health awareness and supporting initiatives that improve access to essential healthcare services.
Dr. Mugagga further appreciated the Buganda Kingdom for its support and participation in the World Smile Day celebrations, noting the importance of cultural institutions in helping take health messages into communities.
He emphasised that partnerships between healthcare providers, government, cultural institutions and organisations such as Smile Train can make a meaningful difference in the lives of families seeking specialised care.
Dr. Mugagga reaffirmed St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso’s commitment to providing free cleft lip and palate surgery to eligible patients through the ongoing Smile Train-supported programme.
He encouraged parents and caregivers of children born with cleft lip and palate, as well as adults living with the condition, to come forward for assessment and information about the available treatment.
He also thanked the patients and their families for trusting the hospital and encouraged them to share their experiences so that more families can learn that treatment is available.
The hospital’s message was clear: families should not allow fear, stigma or financial challenges to prevent them from seeking information and professional medical care.
Nutrition Education for Babies Born with Cleft Lip and Palate
Beyond surgery, the celebration highlighted the importance of nutrition in the care of babies born with cleft lip and palate.
Sister Kahwa Brenda, the hospital’s nutritionist, conducted an educational session and practical demonstration on appropriate feeding practices and the nutritional needs of babies born with cleft conditions.
She explained the importance of appropriate feeding practices in supporting growth, development and recovery, while helping caregivers understand some of the challenges babies with cleft lip and palate may experience when feeding.
The session demonstrated that comprehensive cleft care extends beyond surgery and includes nutrition education, caregiver support, follow-up and other essential healthcare services.
Continuing the Mission: Every Smile Counts
Through its partnership with Smile Train, St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso continues to support access to free cleft lip and palate surgeries, giving children and adults living with cleft conditions an opportunity to receive specialized care.
World Smile Day provided an opportunity not only to celebrate smiles, but also to raise awareness that cleft lip and palate are treatable conditions and that families can seek professional medical advice and support.
The participation of the Ministry of Health, Buganda Kingdom, Smile Train, healthcare professionals, community members and other stakeholders demonstrated the importance of collaboration in ensuring that more people are reached with information and care.
St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso encourages parents and caregivers of children born with cleft lip and palate, as well as affected adults, to contact the hospital for information about assessment and the ongoing free surgery programme.
At St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso, every smile matters, every patient deserves compassionate care, and every new smile tells a story of hope.
