ERA sponsors blood donation drive

What the report says

The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), working with the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS), recently completed a two-day blood donation campaign in Kampala, Gulu, Mbale and Mbarara districts, according to The Observer. The exercise was aimed at helping ease a shortage of blood in health facilities, a problem linked in the report to growing demand for emergency treatment and care for accident victims.

The campaign drew participation from ERA staff, stakeholders in the electricity supply sector and members of the public, and it produced 839 units of blood. ERA’s Public Relations and Consumer Affairs manager, Diana Nambi, said the effort aligned with the authority’s corporate social responsibility policy, which focuses on health, education and environmental initiatives. She also said the agency sees its role as extending beyond regulation to supporting community welfare.

The Observer said ERA has backed other community projects before, including spring well protection and tree planting around river catchment areas linked to hydropower projects. It also noted the authority’s annual “Women in Energy” program, which aims to encourage girls and young women to consider science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. Together, these efforts show how the regulator is using public outreach to support social and environmental goals alongside its core mandate.