Mbarara Hospital’s Upgrade Urged to Improve Regional Health Services
The Committee on Health has renewed calls for Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital to be upgraded to a National Referral Hospital to ease pressure on Mulago Hospital. The request was made during the 2025/2026 budget discussions.
The Committee on Health has renewed calls for Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital to be upgraded to a National Referral Hospital to ease pressure on Mulago Hospital.
The plea was made during the presentation of budget framework papers for regional referral hospitals for the financial year 2025/2026 on January 13, 2025.
Mbarara District Woman Representative, Margaret Ayebare, noted that the hospital serves patients from 12 districts, major highways, and neighbouring countries like Rwanda and Tanzania.
“I have seen patients from Kabale and Masaka coming to Mbarara. Elevating it will enable the hospital to handle patients from different places,” said Ayebare.
George Bhoka Didi (NRM, Obongi County) echoed this, citing the need to decongest Mulago by establishing national referral hospitals in regions like Mbarara, Mbale, Jinja, and Gulu.
“We need to bring services closer to the people,” he stated.
Rushenyi County MP, Naome Kabasharira, highlighted that Mbarara Hospital has advanced facilities like dialysis equipment but operates in outdated infrastructure.
“It’s a referral of referrals. Masaka, Kabale, and Fort Portal send patients here, but the budget remains stagnant,” said Kabasharira.
Acting Hospital Director, Dr. Deus Twesigye, pointed out the hospital’s challenges, including the lack of a regional equipment maintenance workshop.
“There are high costs, such as service contracts for oxygen plants and a CT scan with a 250kv generator that is expensive to run,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Dr. Ibrahim Bwaga, requested a budget increase for 2025/2026 to fund a maternal and child health complex costing Shs33.6 billion.
“We got Shs1.15 billion, which the contractor said can’t even cover the substructure,” said Dr. Bwaga.
Hospitals like Mbarara, Hoima, and Jinja are also grappling with massive utility arrears. Mbarara owes Shs716.3 million, Hoima Shs137.6 million, and Jinja Shs3 billion.
Elisa Rutahigwa (NRM, Rukungiri Municipality) proposed addressing electricity inefficiencies to cut costs.
“Most of the electricity is lost due to poor wiring. Technical experts can assess and fix this,” he suggested.
The budget discussions aim to address resource allocation for critical infrastructure, utilities, and operations at regional referral hospitals.
