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Hoima and Jinja schools of nursing, along with Fort Portal College of Health Science, are set to receive a substantial financial boost of approximately 19 billion Ugandan shillings (4.7 million euros) through a collaborative project between the Belgian government and the Ugandan Ministry of Health.

Hoima and Jinja schools of nursing and midwifery, along with Fort Portal College of Health Science, are set to receive a significant financial boost through a project worth approximately 19 billion Ugandan shillings (equivalent to 4.7 million euros). This initiative aims to enhance the quality of health education in Uganda.

The project, spanning five years, is a collaborative effort between the Belgian government and the Ugandan Ministry of Health. Enabel, the Belgian government’s development agency, will oversee the implementation of the project in Uganda.

Focused on improving education and training within health institutions, particularly for nurses, midwives, and clinical officers, the We Train for Health project seeks to address key challenges in the sector.

Hanna Hanifah Nayoga, the project manager, disclosed that the 19 billion shillings would be distributed among the three designated training institutions. Hoima School of Nursing and Midwifery, with its 1,060 students, will receive a portion amounting to 1.3 million euros. This allocation will primarily target infrastructure enhancements, including dormitories, classrooms, skills labs, and faculty training.

Nayoga further revealed that the project agreement was finalized between the Ugandan and Belgian governments the previous year. With infrastructure validation and prioritization meetings currently underway, the implementation phase is expected to commence soon.

The visit of Belgian Ambassador to Uganda, Chantry Hugues, to Hoima School of Nursing and Midwifery provided an opportunity to assess the impact of projects funded by the Belgian government in the Bunyoro region.

Mark Karanzi, the school’s principal, expressed gratitude for the government’s support, highlighting the institution’s numerous challenges, such as inadequate staff quarters, student accommodation, skills labs, and library facilities.

Ambassador Hugues reiterated Belgium’s commitment to collaborating with Uganda to advance education. He expressed concern over the sector’s insufficient funding, despite its pivotal role in national development. Hugues cautioned education administrators against misappropriating resources, emphasizing the need for funds to be utilized for their intended purposes and not for personal gain.