Pesident Yoweri Museveni will officiate the opening of the UPDF National Referral Hospital on April 30, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has revealed.
“We will open our beautiful Military Referral Hospital on April 30. The President will open our hospital,” Gen Kainerugaba posted on X on Tuesday, March 11.
He described the facility as “the best hospital in Uganda, maybe in East Africa” and congratulated the UPDF on the achievement.
MPs commend hospital progress
Last week, Members of Parliament from the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee expressed appreciation for the hospital’s construction, which is now 93% complete.
A delegation led by Wilson Kajwengye, MP for Nyabushozi County, visited the site for a fact-finding mission to assess progress, acquisition status, and medical equipment installation.
They were welcomed by Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs Huda Abason Oleru.
Kajwengye praised the project, calling it a “wonderful engagement” and said they looked forward to commissioning the facility.
A milestone for Uganda’s health sector
Located in Mbuya, the hospital has a 275-bed capacity and will offer specialised services.
Oleru stressed the importance of prioritising citizens’ health, stating, “Health is life, and seeing is believing.”
The committee toured the hospital, engaging with the consultant engineer and reviewing Mechanical Engineering and Plumbing (MEPs) works. They also acknowledged the challenges faced by China National Aero Technology, the official contractor.
Dr Ben Mbonye, chairperson of the hospital’s steering committee, said the facility will operate independently, with patients required to pay moderate fees.
Project costs and challenges
“UPDF personnel will not receive free treatment. The defence ministry will cover their costs, while private individuals will also have to pay,” he explained.
Initially estimated at Shs106 billion, the hospital’s construction costs have risen to Shs143 billion due to variations and price adjustments.
The facility comprises seven blocks, a five-kilometre perimeter wall, a helipad, a 250-bed incinerator, an oxygen plant, external lighting, and a three-kilometre asphalt road network.
According to Archtech Consults U Ltd, project delays stemmed from factors such as late KCCA approval (submitted in 2018, approved on April 12, 2019), adverse weather, COVID-19 disruptions, contractor requests for price adjustments, and structural modifications for medical equipment.
Once operational, the hospital will provide quality medical services to UPDF personnel, veterans, and the general public, though at a fee.
