Apollo BW uses his voice to give premature babies a fighting chance
Apollo BW
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The choice of donation was no accident. Apollo explained that food was the most immediate and impactful way to help
Driven by a deep love for mothers and a strong desire to give vulnerable newborns a better start in life, US-based Ugandan singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Apollo BW is using his rising stardom to make a difference beyond the stage.
On a recent visit to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital’s Neonatal Unit, Apollo donated a range of essential items — including rice, sugar, baby supplies, and cash — aimed at supporting mothers of premature babies. Many of these women, he said, travel long distances from remote villages without food, money, or even the most basic necessities.
“Imagine going to the hospital pregnant and returning home without a baby,” Apollo reflected somberly. “I cannot imagine the pain these mothers go through. Mothers are the future — we ought to support them in any way possible.”
The choice of donation was no accident. Apollo explained that food was the most immediate and impactful way to help.
“A mother needs good nutrition to breastfeed. If we want these babies to survive, we must nourish their mothers first,” he said.
He also took time to praise the dedicated team at the Neonatal Unit, describing their work as passion-driven rather than profit-motivated.
“When supplies run out, they dig into their own pockets. That’s the true spirit of medicine — putting lives above everything else,” he said, applauding the staff’s sacrifice and commitment to saving lives.
Apollo’s support goes beyond this one-off visit. Last year, he donated funds to Born on the Edge, a psychological support group that empowers mothers of premature babies to share their experiences and support one another emotionally and mentally.
Now, he plans to tell this story more broadly through a documentary that aims to raise awareness about the realities of premature birth — and to break the stigma surrounding it.
“My goal is to alert communities that premature birth is a medical condition, not something caused by witchcraft or superstition,” he said. “These are real babies with real futures. They deserve care, not stigma.”
The Neonatal Unit at Mbale Regional Hospital is a lifeline for thousands of newborns born too soon or with complications. Thanks to the leadership of neonatologist Dr. Kathy Burgoine, Dr. Martha Muduwa, and their dedicated team, the unit has significantly reduced neonatal mortality — from 48% to just 21% — through a new two-tiered care model and strategic partnerships that have improved training and infrastructure.
Apollo BW's contributions may seem modest in scale, but their impact is far-reaching — amplifying critical health issues and shining a spotlight on the mothers and newborns who fight daily for survival.
About Apollo BW
Born in Mbale and now based between Uganda and the U.S., Apollo BW is a genre-blending artist whose music fuses Afrobeat, Afropop, and global influences. But beyond the music, he is a passionate advocate for maternal and neonatal health, using his voice and platform to inspire, empower, and uplift the communities he holds dear.
