Tullamore Credit Union backs Uganda ambulance efforts

Tullamore Credit Union has once again supported the delivery of lifesaving ambulances to Uganda.

The credit union said it was proud to support an extraordinary humanitarian effort transforming access to medical care in Uganda. For several years now, a dedicated volunteer group has been travelling to Uganda to deliver ambulances and fire engines to hospices that desperately need them.

Each volunteer self‑funds their trip and undertakes significant fundraising before they travel, efforts that in 2025 alone helped raise nearly €110,000 for Hospice Africa Uganda. During their visit, the team had the opportunity to see firsthand the impact of this support at one of the three hospice sites operated by Hospice Africa Uganda, located in Makindye.

In Uganda, medical care for cancer patients is extremely limited. Regardless of age or diagnosis, many individuals are placed in hospices without access to adequate pain relief. This heartbreaking reality is the motivation behind the group’s work. Until now, the ambulances and fire engines reaching these facilities were donated by the Government of Japan, with the condition that they be transferred from one government to another, a process that limits flexibility and availability. Ahead of the next journey to Uganda, a special photo shoot took place outside the Tullamore Credit Union office to mark the occasion before the ambulances set off.

One of the ambulances sponsored by Tullamore Credit Union proudly displays the organisation’s distinctive “Green” logo on the wing mirrors, along with the Tullamore Credit Union logo on the front. This April, the volunteer team will travel to Uganda, this time joined by well-known supporters including Michael Duignan, Kellie Harrington, Gareth Sheridan and Garron Noone.

This year’s mission is further strengthened by support from the National Ambulance Service and the HSE, who have donated additional ambulances for deployment. Hope on Wheels, the volunteer initiative behind this project, has already secured sponsorship from Emirates Airline and is continuing to bring more organisations on board.

“Supporting community‑focused initiatives is central to the mission of Tullamore Credit Union. Contributing to a project that delivers lifesaving vehicles to those who would otherwise go without essential care is a privilege, and Tullamore Credit Union is honoured to stand behind the volunteers undertaking this remarkable work,” said Eileen Brophy, Chair of the Board of Directors