Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has opened a dedicated breastfeeding facility at City Hall to provide nursing mothers with a safe, clean and private environment where they can breastfeed or express milk while carrying out their professional duties.The facility was officially launched on Wednesday as Uganda joined the rest of the world in observing August as Breastfeeding Month, an annual period dedicated to promoting breastfeeding and encouraging workplaces and communities to create supportive environments for mothers and their children.
KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki said the new facility goes beyond meeting a legal requirement, describing it as a reflection of the Authority’s commitment to creating a people-centred workplace. She noted that employees are more likely to perform at their best when they are confident that their families and children are being supported.Buzeki thanked the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) for supporting KCCA in establishing and equipping the breastfeeding room. She said the initiative demonstrates the importance of partnerships in improving employee welfare and encouraged other partners to support the establishment of similar facilities across the city.The KCCA Executive Director challenged the Authority and its partners to extend the initiative to division offices, markets and other workplaces where mothers spend much of their time. She said Kampala should continue developing practical solutions that allow women to balance their professional responsibilities with the care and wellbeing of their children.
KCCA Deputy Executive Director Benon Kigenyi welcomed the facility, saying it represents the kind of supportive workplace the Authority wants to build. He noted that mothers can perform their duties more effectively when they have confidence in the safety and wellbeing of their children, adding that the facility will help mothers provide their babies with safe and clean breast milk while remaining productive at work.KCCA Director of Public Health and Environment Dr. Sarah Zalwango said the Authority was joining other institutions that have established breastfeeding spaces to make workplaces more accommodating for nursing mothers.
She noted that similar facilities are already available in some KCCA-managed spaces, including Busega Market and Wandegeya Market.Representatives from the Ministry of Health, GAIN and UNICEF welcomed the initiative, stressing the importance of creating workplace environments that enable mothers to continue breastfeeding while pursuing their careers. The facility is expected to give working mothers greater dignity, flexibility and peace of mind, while strengthening KCCA’s efforts to promote healthier families and a more supportive workplace for its employees.
