With a compatible kidney donor already identified and a slot secured for surgery in India, 32-year-old Ian Atukunda is urgently seeking financial support to raise an additional Shs 80 million.
This sum, when combined with the Shs 70 million he has already collected, will cover the Shs 150 million cost of his kidney transplant. Atukunda has been battling end-stage kidney disease, or renal failure, since his diagnosis in March 2024.
“I was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease, which is also known as renal failure. Currently, I am undergoing dialysis at Mulago hospital. Dialysis only helps to relieve the signs and symptoms of kidney disease, but it is not a permanent solution. The most reliable and long-lasting solution is a kidney transplant,” Atukunda shares, describing his challenging medical journey.
“The doctors told me that if I have a kidney transplant, I have a very high chance of improving my life and permanently getting off dialysis, which would allow me to live a normal life,” he adds.
A medical report from Mulago hospital nephrologist Dr Peace Bagasha, dated May 27, 2024, confirms the severity of Atukunda’s condition.
“I have been involved in the care of the above-named 32-year-old male Ugandan patient, file number MNSH 0000072930, since March 2024 when he was initiated onto chronic hemodialysis after presenting with features of kidney failure. He is currently stable on this therapy with well-controlled blood pressures and biochemical parameters.
However, to maintain this degree of stable health, he needs to continue hemodialysis at least three times weekly indefinitely or obtain a kidney transplant. A kidney transplant offers the best quality of life for Ian, and fortunately, he has been offered a kidney by his sister. However, the cost of the procedure itself is high (approximately 150 to 200 million Uganda shillings), mainly because it has to be done outside Uganda. Therefore, Ian needs to raise these funds to access care. Any help rendered to facilitate this would be greatly appreciated,” the report states.
Atukunda is now reaching out to well-wishers for assistance, hoping to gather the necessary funds to undergo the life-saving procedure and secure a better quality of life. Speaking about the signs and symptoms of his kidney disease, Ian Atukunda recalls the troubling experiences that led him to seek medical advice. Before being advised to see a doctor, he noticed unusual swelling in his face and feet, along with extreme fatigue.
These symptoms, however, went largely unnoticed by his colleagues at work.
“When I woke up in the morning, my face would swell. But as the day went on, the swelling would move to my feet. Sometimes it got so bad that it would extend up to my legs, making it impossible for me to wear closed shoes. A friend of mine, who is a doctor, saw me one day and urged me to go see a doctor,” Atukunda recalls.
Following his friend’s advice, Atukunda was referred to Dr Peace Bagasha, a specialist in Nephrology at Mulago national referral hospital in Kampala. After undergoing several tests, including renal function tests, a complete blood count (CBC), and liver function tests, the results revealed that his kidneys were functioning at a dangerously low level.
“At that time, my kidneys were function- ing at just 3%. Dr Peace Bagasha told me that below 5% is considered the end stage of kidney failure. At that stage, there was no alternative to dialysis. It had to be started as soon as possible,” he recalls.
With his kidneys failing, Atukunda was admitted to Mulago Hospital as an outpatient and immediately began dialysis to remove excess waste and toxins from his body.
“The journey of kidney disease is very draining—emotionally, financially, and socially. Right now, I am no longer able to work. It takes a lot of money; for example, at Mulago, a session of dialysis costs 150,000 Ugandan shillings. Additionally, there are consumables used during dialysis that cost an extra 50,000 shillings, bringing the total to 200,000 shillings per session. With two sessions per week, that’s 400,000 shillings. Kidney patients also face the challenge of not producing blood naturally because the kidneys are no longer excreting the hormone needed from the bone marrow to produce blood. So, I have to pay to have this hormone injected into my body,” he explained.
Despite the challenges, Atukunda remains hopeful. He believes that with the support of well-wishers, he can raise the remaining 80 million shillings needed to undergo a life-saving kidney transplant, turning his kidney disease into a story of the past. His contact is 0772 671908.
inarticle} inarticle}
