Health 21 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Jinja Hospital to Launch State-of-the-Art Diagnostic Centre, Reducing Reliance on Mulago
Jinja Regional Referral Hospital is set to acquire a multi-million diagnostic centre featuring advanced imaging and laboratory equipment. This initiative aims to improve patient care and lessen the referral burden on Mulago National Referral Hospital. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/jinja-hospital-to-get-multimillion-modern-diagnostic-centre-to-ease-mulago-burden-5503868
Jinja Regional Referral Hospital is embarking on a significant upgrade with the establishment of a modern medical imaging and diagnostic centre. This development is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health and the Smart African Village Development Consortium (SADO), with strong backing from First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga.
The new facility will house advanced medical technology, including a German-made 64-slice CT scan machine, an MRI scanner, modern X-ray equipment, and sophisticated laboratory diagnostic tools. According to Dr. Gerald Mutungi, Assistant Commissioner for Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, these tools will empower medical professionals to make more accurate diagnoses and provide effective treatments.
The project addresses the growing concern over non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Busoga sub-region, which Dr. Mutungi described as “silent killers.” Factors such as poor nutrition, excessive alcohol consumption, substance abuse, and a lack of awareness contribute to the rising NCD rates. Many patients only seek help in severe stages after self-medicating.
This initiative is part of a larger plan by SADO to enhance healthcare delivery across five hospitals and 76 health centres in the East and Central sub-regions, making imaging services more accessible and affordable. “Many non-communicable diseases present symptoms similar to other illnesses, making them difficult to diagnose without advanced laboratory and diagnostic equipment. This centre will greatly improve early detection and treatment,” stated Jinja City Health Officer Dr. Fredrick Isabirye, emphasizing the potential to save lives.
The upgrade is also timely as Jinja Regional Referral Hospital’s new master plan has been approved, recognizing that its existing infrastructure, largely from the 1950s, cannot support modern medical systems. While the hospital has qualified consultants, the absence of advanced diagnostic equipment has historically necessitated referrals to Mulago, a burden this new centre aims to alleviate.