The multibillion infrastructure being constructed by the UPDF Engineering brigade.
By Arnest Tumwesige
LUWERO: Healthcare services in Luwero District are expected to significantly improve as plans to expand Luwero General Hospital take shape, positioning the facility to better handle growing patient numbers and emergency cases along the busy Kampala-Gulu highway.
Luwero General Hospital, which was upgraded from a Health Centre IV five years ago, currently serves a catchment population of over 50,000 people, offering both outpatient and inpatient services.
However, due to its strategic location along the highway, the facility has continued to experience a steady rise in patient numbers, resulting in congestion in wards some of which date back to 1940 when the facility was first established.
With an average of 650 deliveries per month, the hospital is now set to benefit from the construction of a new inpatient block with a capacity of 100 beds. The development is expected to ease pressure on existing infrastructure and enhance service delivery.
Dr. Oyik Bruno, the hospital Medical Superintendent, says the new block which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 will be a major milestone in improving healthcare services at the facility.
“There will be more space to accommodate patients, especially in critical areas like the theatre. As administration, we are very expectant that once the building is completed, it will reduce pressure on infrastructure and equipment, and we are confident it will be fully equipped,” he noted.
The planned facility will include two modern, high-tech theatres and a fully equipped emergency unit fitted with essential equipment such as trolleys, monitors, and other life-saving accessories. Ministry of Health Intends to spend about UGX 2.5 Billion on procuring the equipment.
Strategically located between Nakaseke Hospital and Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital, Luwero General Hospital is expected to play a more critical role in handling emergencies, particularly road traffic accidents along the highway corridor stretching from Kampala to Kiryandongo.
Need to Strengthen Emergency Services
“Given our location along the highway, we need a well-equipped emergency unit capable of handling accident cases. There is also a need for a blood bank that can store enough units so that patients referred elsewhere can at least move with two units of blood to save lives,” Dr. Oyik emphasizes the urgency of strengthening emergency care services.
Currently, the district lacks a regional blood bank, forcing reliance on supplies from Nakasero Blood Bank in Kampala, located about 60 kilometres away. This challenge is further compounded by high malaria prevalence in the district, which often leads to anemia cases requiring urgent blood transfusions.
Luwero District, with a population of approximately 616,000 people according to the 2024 National Population Census, continues to grapple with a high disease burden. Malaria remains the leading cause of illness, followed by respiratory tract infections such as flu and cough, as well as diarrheal diseases.
Beyond infrastructure, Dr. Oyik notes that the absence of a lagoon in Luwero Town Council could pose a major challenge.
“We are likely to generate a lot of waste, and relying only on septic tanks may not be sustainable. There is need for a proper disposal site to manage this effectively,” he added.
The expansion project, estimated at UGX 6 billion, is being funded by the Ministry of Health with support from the Office of the President. The directive to boost funding was issued in September 2024 to support the district’s long-standing efforts to complete the project.
Construction of the hospital infrastructure initially began around 2012 under the leadership of former District Chairperson Al-Hajji Abdul Nadduli. Progress had stalled over the years until 2018 when the Ministry of Health began supporting the project with approximately UGX 500 million annually.
According to Dr. Nkonwa Innocent, the Luwero District Health Officer, the initial phase of construction was funded by the district through Primary Health Care funds, capital development allocations, and local revenue, totaling about UGX 2.9 billion.
Status of the district facilities
Meanwhile, the district continues to expand access to healthcare services across its lower-level facilities. Luwero currently has 40 government health facilities and 17 private not-for-profit institutions run by religious organizations including the Catholic Church, Church of Uganda, Seventh-day Adventists, Orthodox Church, and Muslim community.
The government facilities include Nyibwa and Kalagala Health Centre IVs, 17 Health Centre IIIs, and 19 Health Centre IIs.
Efforts are also underway to upgrade more facilities to improve accessibility. In 2018, Katuugo Health Centre II was upgraded to Health Centre III status.
Additional facilities proposed for upgrade and already submitted to the Ministry of Health include Mazi Health Centre II in Kamira Sub-county, Kirumandagi Health Centre II in Kikyusa Sub-county, Nakigoza Health Centre III in Zirobwe Town Council, and Nsabwe in Ndejje Town Council.
Plans are also in place to construct a new government health facility in Busiika Town Council, which currently lacks one.