Health 11 November 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
A Century Later, Mbale Regional Referral Hospital Faces Severe Congestion and Staff Shortages
Established in 1924, Mbale Regional Referral Hospital is struggling with severe patient congestion and operates with only 28 percent of its required workforce. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/100-years-on-mbale-hospital-still-grapples-with-congestion-5666704
A century after opening its doors, Mbale Regional Referral Hospital continues to face extreme congestion as soaring numbers of patients seek medical care, forcing some individuals to receive treatment in corridors and verandahs.
Founded in 1924, the regional facility now provides healthcare services to an estimated 4.59 million people spread across 16 districts in eastern Uganda, alongside Mbale City.
Despite this massive population catchment, the hospital’s current bed capacity stands at 500, which satisfies just 30 percent of the actual medical demand in the region.
Compounding the infrastructure challenge, operational conditions remain constrained. The facility currently runs with a mere 28 percent of its required workforce, while simultaneously enduring persistent shortages of essential medical resources and equipment.
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