Government to Upgrade 100 Health Centre IVs and 20 General Hospitals to Ease Congestion

The Ugandan government has announced an ambitious infrastructure plan to upgrade more than 100 Health Centre IVs into community hospitals and improve 20 general hospitals nationwide. According to the Minister of State for Health in charge of General Duties, Anifa Bangirana Kawooya, funds have already been earmarked in the current financial year to execute these vital health sector improvements.

The initiative aims to curb severe overcrowding at regional referral hospitals. Officials noted that many patients routinely bypass lower-level facilities in favor of referral hospitals, severely straining legacy infrastructure and overwhelming staff. Facilities like Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, which serves a population exceeding five million people across Busoga and surrounding districts, have been grappling with high patient numbers and aging colonial-era ward spaces.

During her inspection of the Jinja facility, Minister Kawooya pledged to advocate for a modern maternity ward meeting regional referral standards. Furthermore, she issued a stern warning to medical personnel regarding professional misconduct, particularly absenteeism and directing patients to buy medicines at private clinics when government stores are well-stocked. She directed local authorities and the National Drug Authority to shut down unregistered pharmacies operating near the hospital.

Meanwhile, hospital leadership highlighted other pressing logistical challenges. Dr. Alfred Yayi, the Senior Executive Consultant at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, urged local authorities to improve nighttime security by installing street lighting along access roads. He also called for the relocation of a nearby motorcycle taxi stage to clear traffic blockages that delay ambulances and patients seeking emergency care.

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