President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has flagged off the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the 250-bed cardiac hospital in Naguru, Nakawa division, Kampala.
In his message through the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, he appealed to Ugandans to be protective of their lives in regards to non communicable diseases since they are a burden to the country and across the globe.
He advised Ugandans to embrace medical checkups and to adhere to doctors’ advice.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng urged the project managers; Arab Contractors to ensure timely construction and completion within two years since this is part of the NRM Government deliverables especially in this time as the country gears up for the upcoming general elections of 2026.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine explained that this hospital will help Ugandan doctors who traveled abroad to return to Uganda and ply their trade here since it will be equipped with all the necessary equipment.
The Executive Director of the Uganda Heart Institute, Dr. John Omagino explained that this project has been injected with external funding amounting to 70m US dollars.
Dr. Omagino explained that the new Uganda Heart Institute will be established on 10 acres of land and will consist of 3 blocks including clinical, administration and accommodation and 3 operating theatres, 2 catheterisation laboratories and a 40-bed state of the art Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
He also outlined some of the project’s objectives that among others include; providing affordable and accessible cardiovascular treatment and care for all the people of Uganda, reducing referrals abroad and saving foreign exchange reserves, improving specialized teaching, training and research as well as promoting medical tourism in Uganda.
The 70 million US Dollars will be financed by funds from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa Fund (BADEA), Saudi Fund for Development and the Government of Uganda.
By Olivia Nabaggala
4 February 2025
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