The UPDF National Referral Hospital has identified human resource quality as the defining factor in its ambition to become a leading centre of healthcare excellence in Uganda and the wider region.
Speaking at the Chief of Defence Forces’ end-of-year dinner and team-building function held at the hospital in Mbuya, the Joint Staff Health Services, Major General Dr Ambrose Musinguzi, urged medical personnel to uphold professionalism, discipline, and teamwork as the hospital enters a critical phase of growth.
Maj Gen Dr Musinguzi said the hospital’s modern infrastructure and advanced equipment had already drawn regional attention, but warned that facilities alone do not guarantee quality care.
“This hospital is attracting attention across the region because of its infrastructure and equipment,” he said. “What will now define its success is the human resource. That responsibility lies with you.”
He stressed that healthcare outcomes are shaped more by conduct and attitude than by buildings and machines, highlighting nursing care as central to patient recovery and experience.
“A doctor may come, diagnose, and operate, but the patient lives with the nurse,” he said. “If we want to talk about quality healthcare, we must start with nursing care, patient management, and professionalism at the bedside.”
Maj Gen Dr Musinguzi also reaffirmed the constitutional mandate of UPDF Health Services to support Uganda’s national health system, especially during emergencies.
“When the country faces epidemics, disasters, or health catastrophes, UPDF health services are always called upon,” he said. “In some cases, the only doctors deployed were from the UPDF, and we delivered.”
Tracing the evolution of military health services, he recalled the early days of the National Resistance Army when fewer than ten doctors served the force, compared to the current network of more than 71 health facilities across the country.
“This transformation was deliberate and purposeful,” he said. “Military health services are one of the major pillars of UPDF’s overall transformation.”
The Chief Executive Officer of the UPDF National Referral Hospital, Colonel Dr Ronald Nangamba, said the facility operates under a clear vision that demands a shift in mindset and practice.
“Our vision is to be a premier healthcare institution and a leader in health education and research in Uganda and the region,” Col Dr Nangamba said. “This is a big vision, and it requires teamwork, cohesion, and shared responsibility across all cadres.”
He described the hospital as a national asset, noting that every staff member contributes to its public image and performance.
“This hospital is not just another health facility. It is a national asset entrusted to us by the UPDF leadership and the people of Uganda,” he said. “Every staff member here, whether clinical or non-clinical, plays a role in shaping the reputation of this institution.”
Col Dr Nangamba said the hospital represents a shift from routine service delivery to a patient-centred, research-driven, and accountable healthcare model.
The Director of Administration and Finance, Colonel Deborah Nayebare, said the hospital’s strength lies in its diverse workforce, drawn from different formations and professional backgrounds.
“As a new unit, we have brought together personnel from different walks of life and different deployments,” Col Nayebare said. “That diversity is a strength, but only if we deliberately build trust, understanding, and professionalism among ourselves.”
She explained that the end-of-year function was designed not only to celebrate achievements but also to strengthen teamwork, resolve conflicts, and build cohesion in a high-pressure medical environment.
“In the course of duty, especially in high-pressure medical settings, disagreements can arise,” she said. “Activities like this allow us to interact outside the ward, understand one another better, and build a strong, united medical team that can perform effectively under pressure.”
The event featured sports activities, team-building exercises, and a social engagement, marking the start of a new institutional culture aligned with the hospital’s mandate and long-term ambitions.