Uganda Blood Transfusion Services

Name

Uganda Blood Transfusion Services

Legal name

Uganda Blood Transfusion Services

Website

https://ubts.go.ug

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blood Transfusion Services

NAICS

Blood and Organ Banks (621991), Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Transfusion Medicine & Immunohematology (Blood Bank) (HLAFAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation Organizations (BPAGACAJ), Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine LIS (HLACAMAE), Blood Bank, Transfusion Medicine & Immunohematology (HLAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Blood transfusion services
• Voluntary blood donation
• Blood component processing
• Blood screening testing
• National blood service

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: UBTS operates as a government-funded public health service under the Ministry of Health. Government funding covers operational costs and infrastructure development. More government funding is required to replace reducing donor funding.
2. International Donor Support: PEPFAR has made significant improvements in blood safety programs. CDC, WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, Danida, and other international donors provide funding and technical support for blood safety activities.
3. Blood Supply to Hospitals: UBTS supplies blood and blood components to public and private hospitals across Uganda. The cost to make a unit of safe blood delivered to hospital is approximately US$45. Revenue is realized through supply agreements with healthcare facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

UBTS collects voluntary non-remunerated blood donations through a national network of Regional Blood Banks, Blood Centres, permanent Donor Centres, and mobile collection teams; screens every unit for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis using Architect, Axysm, and ELISA assays; processes donations into components (whole blood, red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, packed cells, pediatric packs); and supplies these blood components to public and private hospitals across Uganda. The organization also provides clinical transfusion services, specialised transfusion services, and reference laboratory services, operating as the country's designated National Blood Service under the Ministry of Health.

Product overview

Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) is the National Blood Service providing a network of blood collection, testing, processing, and transfusion services. The service operates through 14 permanent Donor Centres, 8 Regional Blood Banks (Arua, Fort-Portal, Gulu, Kitovu, Mbale, Mbarara, Masaka, and Nakasero as the National Blood Bank), and 6 Blood Centres (Hoima, Lira, Jinja, Kabale, Rukungiri, and Soroti). UBTS collects, screens, and processes donated blood into components including Whole Blood, Red Blood Cells, Platelets, Plasma/Fresh Frozen Plasma, Cryoprecipitate, and Packed Cells. Testing services include screening for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, and blood grouping (ABO/Rhesus). The organization also provides Clinical Services and Specialised Services to healthcare facilities across Uganda.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whole Blood Blood product containing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma; typically used in cases of significant blood loss such as major surgeries or trauma. Supplied to public and private hospitals across Uganda.
• Red Blood Cells (RBCs) Oxygen-carrying blood component used to treat anaemia, surgical blood loss, and conditions where oxygen delivery to tissues is compromised.
• Platelets Blood component cell fragments crucial for clotting, essential for patients with thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), leukaemia, or those undergoing chemotherapy.
• Plasma / Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) Liquid blood component containing water, electrolytes, and proteins including clotting factors, used to treat patients with clotting disorders, liver disease, or severe burns.
• Cryoprecipitate Plasma component rich in clotting factors, especially fibrinogen, factor VIII, and von Willebrand factor; administered to patients with haemophilia, von Willebrand disease, or other bleeding disorders.
• Packed Cells Processed blood component consisting of red blood cells prepared for transfusion and maintained at optimal storage conditions.
• Blood Testing and Screening Services Mandatory laboratory screening of donated blood for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis, plus ABO and Rhesus blood grouping, using Architect Technology at Nakasero HQ, Axysm Technology at Regional Blood Banks, and manual microplate ELISA at sub-regional centres, with CDC Atlanta IQAS proficiency testing.
• Clinical Services Clinical blood transfusion services provided to healthcare facilities across Uganda.
• Specialised Services Specialised blood transfusion and related medical services provided by UBTS.
• Blood Donation Process Voluntary non-remunerated blood donation process taking 5-15 minutes, including health screening, donation, and post-donation care, available at 14 permanent Donor Centres and mobile blood drives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donors achieved (up from 85% in 1999)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerURCS is responsible for approximately 40% of blood donor recruitment activities. Donor management task force established jointly. URCS operates at societal interface for community outreach and donor mobilization.
• WHO (World Health Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO provides guidance and support for blood transfusion safety standards and practices. UBTS operates within international WHO frameworks for blood safety.
• UNICEFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF supports maternal and child health programs that utilize blood supplies. Partnership focuses on ensuring safe blood availability for paediatric and maternal health needs.
• NSSF Uganda (National Social Security Fund)minorOthersNSSF is a national saving scheme providing social security services. Partnership likely involves corporate social responsibility initiatives supporting blood donation drives.
• Umeme LimitedminorOthersUganda's main electricity distribution company, listed on Uganda Securities Exchange. Partnership likely involves corporate sponsorship for blood donation campaigns.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Australian Red Cross Lifeblood: Australia's national blood service collecting and processing blood components with strong voluntary donor programs — comparable in product scope and donor-driven model, but operates in a more developed regulatory and reimbursement environment than UBTS.
• South African National Blood Service (SANBS): Africa's largest non-profit national blood service operating across multiple zones with extensive component processing and donor recruitment — a comparable mandate but at much greater scale, with a more developed commercial and operational model than UBTS.
• American Red Cross Biomedical Services: The largest U.S. blood collector, supplying ~40% of the country's blood and operating national donor recruitment, TTI screening, and component processing — comparable in mandate and product mix, but vastly larger and more digitally mature than UBTS.
• NHS Blood and Transplant: The UK national blood service operating collection, processing, testing, and transplantation services at national scale — comparable in mandate and product mix (whole blood, components, specialized services), but operates in a far more mature, regulated market than UBTS.
• Canadian Blood Services: Canada's national, non-profit blood operator with donor recruitment, TTI screening, and component production across provinces — directly comparable in mandate and product portfolio, but at much higher scale and technological maturity than UBTS.

Direct peers

• Tanzania National Blood Transfusion Service: Tanzania's national blood service under the Ministry of Health; runs zonal blood banks, voluntary donor recruitment, and TTI screening across the country — closely comparable regional and structural peer to UBTS in East Africa.
• Ethiopia National Blood Transfusion Service: Ethiopia's national blood service under the Ministry of Health, operating regional blood banks with VNRBD recruitment and TTI screening — a comparable Sub-Saharan national blood service peer in scale and government structure.
• Rwanda National Centre for Blood Transfusion: Rwanda's national blood service within the Rwanda Biomedical Centre; operates district collection, TTI screening, and component preparation — highly comparable peer given similar population scale, government structure, and East African operating environment.
• Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service: Kenya's national, government-mandated blood service operating regional blood banks with voluntary non-remunerated donor recruitment, TTI screening, and component processing — directly comparable in mandate, donor model, and East African operating context to UBTS.
• Ghana National Blood Service: Ghana's national, government-affiliated blood service running regional blood centres with voluntary donor drives, TTI screening, and component preparation — a directly comparable African national blood service peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ubtsgo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uganda-blood-transfusion-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Uganda Blood Transfusion Services