AI for health, anytime anywhere (2025)

• As Uganda explores digital solutions to bridge gaps in healthcare access, XRP Healthcare is introducing an AI-powered app that offers instant health advice via smartphones. But can it overcome challenges such as limited smartphone access, digital literacy, and the need for culturally aware AI?

When XRP Healthcare entered the Ugandan market, it was not just launching a business, it was introducing a new approach to healthcare access. At its core, it is an AI-powered mobile app, designed to give users instant health advice, right from their smartphones.Described by its co-founder as “a health friend in your pocket,” the app aims to close the healthcare access gap, particularly for those with smartphone access. Users can ask health-related questions in real time, upload images of symptoms, such as persistent skin rashes, and receive instant feedback.In a country where seeing a doctor often involves long queues, high consultation fees, or travel on dusty rural roads, this digital solution could be a game-changer.“Imagine a young mother in a rural district who notices her baby has a rash. Instead of waiting days to find a clinic or money for consultation fees, she can upload a photo and ask what it could be.

It can also direct her to the nearest doctor,” says Kain Roomes, founder and CEO of XRP Healthcare.“The app does not replace doctors, it offers guidance and peace of mind until professional care is accessed.”Roomes’ motivation, he says, is personal. A former footballer and fitness influencer turned entrepreneur, he was drawn to healthcare after witnessing mental illness in his own family.“My grandmother struggled with mental health, and my brother still suffers from schizophrenia. When people close to you go through that, it changes you,” he says.According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), schizophrenia is a serious illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, often requiring ongoing medical support.

Supporting role

The app is designed to support, not substitute, healthcare professionals. It offers preliminary insights but cannot prescribe treatment or medication.“If someone needs medicine, they still have to see a doctor. The app cannot prescribe, it can only advise and refer,” Roomes explains.To ensure safety, the app includes built-in safeguards. It does not store personal identifiers such as emails or names, and it halts conversations when questions go beyond its ethical scope.“AI can support what we call self-care, but it will not replace doctors,” says Dr Peter Waiswa, a public health expert and researcher.“In countries where people avoid clinics due to cost or fear, that kind of guidance is valuable.”Waiswa adds that similar AI tools are being developed at Makerere University, capable of conversing in local languages and identifying conditions such as depression or hypertension through symptom follow-ups. Still, he cautions that to be effective, such AI must be trained on local data.“We need AI that understands Luganda or Runyankole, and reflects our disease patterns and cultural beliefs,” he says.

Not Uganda’s first AI tool

According to Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Senior Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health, AI is already part of the Ministry’s broader digital transformation strategy. “We have used AI elements before. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we deployed a chatbot that helped Ugandans understand symptoms and locate nearby health services,” he says. Ainebyoona adds that the Ministry is committed to expanding and regulating AI tools to enhance efficiency and service delivery, though public oversight and ethical considerations remain key.

Challenges remain

Despite the promise, barriers persist. Smartphone penetration, while growing, remains limited in rural areas and among older populations. Internet costs are high, and digital literacy varies widely.“Even among youth, misinformation is everywhere. Having a credible health source on your phone can make a big difference,” Roomes notes.However, not all health experts are fully convinced. Some warn that over-reliance on AI for medical advice may delay critical care or lead to misinterpretation of symptoms, especially if users misunderstand its limitations.“There is a risk in treating AI apps like virtual doctors,” says a Kampala-based clinical officer who requested anonymity.“If someone relies solely on the app and doesn’t follow up with a real doctor, that can be dangerous.”

Grounding technology in the local system

To integrate into Uganda’s healthcare ecosystem, XRP Healthcare recently acquired Pharmaville, a local chain of pharmacies. The acquisition offers an operational base and connects the app with physical access points for medication and consultation. “Most clinics or pharmacies import drugs in small batches, pay huge markups, and pass that cost to patients. If XRP can negotiate directly with manufacturers, that could reduce prices,” says Dr. Waiswa. Yet, questions remain about affordability for the average Ugandan. Will services offered through the app be free, or will there be subscription tiers? XRP says more details will be shared as the rollout expands.

Going global, staying local?

XRP Healthcare is also going public on international stock markets in Canada and the United Arab Emirates. While this may seem distant from local impact, Dr. Waiswa says the listing could raise standards. “Public companies must maintain transparency and accountability. If managed well, that could reflect positively on Uganda’s health sector.” Still, international expansion raises a key question: Will the focus remain on serving communities in Uganda, or will profit-driven models take precedence?

The future

With multilingual support in English, Luganda, Swahili, and even Jamaican Patois, XRP Healthcare has ambitions to expand across East Africa. Uganda, however, remains the launchpad. For users, the benefits could be immediate: better access, faster answers, and a private, judgment-free space to ask health questions. But the success of this digital shift depends not just on technology, but on trust, transparency, and thoughtful integration with existing health systems. While XRP Healthcare offers an innovative solution to healthcare access, its real test will be how well it navigates Uganda’s infrastructural challenges, integrates with medical professionals, and earns the trust of users it aims to serve.