The government through the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) has commenced construction of a state-of-the-art 250-bed cardiac hospital in Naguru.
The facility aims to provide accessible and affordable cardiovascular treatment to Ugandans, addressing the growing burden of heart diseases in the country.
The hospital complex which is seated on 10 acres of land is going to comprise 3 blocks including a clinical block, administration block and accommodation block, 3 operating theatres, 2 catheterization laboratories, 250 beds including 40 intensive care unit beds, consulting rooms, imaging services, physiotherapy units and training facilities for research, general wards for females, males and children, as well as VIP and VVIP units.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Dr James Magara, the board chairman of UHI said for decades, UHI has been at the forefront of cardiovascular healthcare, offering specialized treatment and conducting research and training health professionals. UHI continues to operate with constrained spaces at Mulago National hospital, limiting its capacity to meet the increasing patient load and growing demand for advanced cardiac care.
“The rising burden of cardiovascular diseases in Uganda and across the region necessitated the urgent establishment of a stand-alone world-class cardiovascular hospital,” he said.
Besides expanding access to quality cardiovascular care, Dr Magara noted that the new facility will enhance the capacity to train the next generation of cardiovascular specialists, conduct cutting-edge research and introduce medical innovations, strengthening early prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and reduce the need for referrals abroad.
He however requested the government to implement a framework of remuneration that motivates and retains their highly trained professionals because without competitive and structured incentives, they risk losing them to other institutions that are more proactive in ensuring better remuneration and staff welfare.
“The Uganda Heart Institute budget must be adjusted to align with the growing demand for cardiovascular services. As we move forward, our priority is to create a financially sound, high quality and efficiently managed facility that benefits patients, medical professionals and the nation at large.”
Prime minister Robinah Nabbanja who officiated the groundbreaking noted that the government has over the years made interventions to improve heart healthcare services such as granting UHI self-accounting status, procuring Uganda’s first post-independence Cath Lab in 2010, strengthening UHI by enacting the Uganda Heart Institute Act in 2016, and continued budgetary increase for the institute and replacing the old Cath Lab with a new, state-of-the-art one in 2024.
However, despite these efforts, Uganda continues to face a growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) with statistics showing that CVDs are among the leading causes of death in Uganda.
“This growing burden has increased demand for specialized cardiac care, yet UHI has long operated in inadequate facilities within Mulago National Referral hospital. The need for expanded infrastructure and modern equipment has never been greater. It is against this backdrop that government together with our development partners has prioritized the construction of a dedicated, state-of-the-art home for UHI,” Nabbanja said.
The construction works, supply and installation of medical equipment and furniture in the hospital are expected to cost $73 million which government secured through a loan from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) Fund and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) who provided $20 million, $20 million and $30 million respectively. While the government of Uganda contributed $3 million on top of the 10 acres of land.
The construction is being done by Arab Contractors Limited and is expected to be completed within two years. Nabbanja urged the project supervisors to strictly supervise the works to guarantee value for money and the highest standards of quality and further implored the contractors and the Uganda Heart Institute leadership to ensure timely delivery of the project.
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