Museveni Commissions Shs117 Billion Surgical Hospital

President Yoweri Museveni commissioned a new state-of-the-art health facility that cost Shs117 billion to build, according to the Minister of Health Dr. Ruth Aceng.

The government contributed 20% to the construction and will continue paying 20% of the running costs for 8 years until it is handed over to the Ugandan government, while the rest of the funds were mobilised by Dr. Gino Strada an Italian war surgeon, human rights and peace activist and founder of EMERGENCY, a recognized international non-governmental organization.

The ultra-modern children surgical hospital, built on 30 acres of land donated by the UPDF (Special Forces Command) in Entebbe, will offer medical services to children aged 0-18.

Designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano on a pro-bono basis, the facility was constructed using innovative solutions to minimize energy consumption, combining architectural excellence. 

Dr. Strada died in August this year before the official commissioning of the hospital that he was looking forward to.

“Jesus died 2000 years ago but is remembered today because of his good deeds. Although Dr. Gino died, he has left behind a testimony of his character and contribution to humanity. The Italians have done something special for humanity right at the centre of the equator,” President Museveni said.

Paola Coin, an Italian philanthropist -- donated US$8million towards the construction of the hospital.

Museveni the 50th Uganda independence golden medals to the founder Dr. Gino Strada (posthumously), Coin, Piano, Rossella Miccio (president of EMERGENCY), and Pietro Parrino (director of EMERGENCY Field Operations Department).

The 50th Independence Golden medal is given to individuals in recognition of their outstanding service and loyalty to the country

The Entebbe hospital will become a referral point for surgery from patients across the continent.

It is the second facility in EMERGENCY’s African Network of Medical Excellence (ANME) after EMERGENCY’s Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery in Khartoum, Sudan, which has treated patients from over 30 countries.

Situated on the banks of Lake Victoria, EMERGENCY’s Children’s Surgical Hospital opened its doors on Monday 19 April, but due to Covid-19 restrictions, the opening ceremony took place after six months of activities.

The facility has admitted 345 patients since opening, whilst 1,185 patients have been treated as outpatients. 355 surgical operations have taken place and the average patient age is five years old.

Miccio said the hospital is rapidly becoming a referral point for paediatric elective surgery in Uganda and beyond.

“These first six months of activity clearly confirmed that there is a strong need for paediatric elective surgery in the region. A real partnership between international organizations and Ugandan institutions and professionals can pave the way to strengthen local capacity and to provide continuous secondary and tertiary quality care,” she said.

At full capacity, the hospital will employ 385 local people, including 179 medical workers. The facility will also be dedicated to training local staff, who will play an integral role in improving paediatric surgery and medical care in the country.