The Director of Naguru Hospital, also known as the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital, Dr. Emmanuel Tugaineyo, has trashed rumours of the hospital closure that have been circulating in the media, claiming that the hospital will shut down for a full year to enable its expansion and renovation.
Dr. Tugaineyo says the hospital is operating normally and is not about to close, as has been the narrative in the public after false reports were made regarding the matter.
“Such reports are alarmist and should be disregarded, and some of the figures reported are inaccurate. I talked to New Vision, which is the national paper, but they chose to write the wrong things. I don’t know where they got them from,” the hospital’s Executive Director said.
He admitted, however, that plans to renovate and expand the hospital are still in talks but have not yet been approved or commenced. In the expansion, a trauma centre is set to be incorporated.
“A technical team including the Chinese and officials from the Ministry of Health came and did a feasibility study to assess the Hospital’s situation, and as you know, this is a process. It is not like the hospital will close next week or next month,” Dr. Tugaineyo noted.
According to the Hospital’s Director, there are big plans to upgrade the Hospital to A National Referral Trauma centre, where it will provide specialised medical services and resources to patients suffering from traumatic injuries.
Dr. Tugaineyo added that due to these false reports, his hospital staff are under tension, and some are in fear of losing their jobs which might hinder their performance at work and a risk to service delivery.
“My staff are scared and in panic mode; they think we are about to lay them off or transfer them to other places in a few day. This exaggeration (in the false reports) was not necessary,” Dr. Tugaineyo said.
Naguru General Hospital, also known as China-Uganda Friendship Hospital Naguru was built by the government of China as a gift to the Government of Uganda, and KCCA donated the 5-acre site where the hospital was built.
