The Director of China-Uganda Friendship Hospital-Naguru, Dr. Emmanuel Tugaineyo, has asked the government of Uganda to remove the word ‘China’ from the hospital’s name, citing that it prevents the hospital from receiving support and donations from Western donors.

According to Dr. Tugaineyo, the inclusion of the word ‘China’ in the hospital’s name has estranged it from potential donors from the West, who perceive the hospital as being fully funded by the Chinese government.

“The Chinese government mostly provides the hospital with acupuncture needles and gloves. The name China-Uganda Friendship Hospital has alienated us from implementing partners,” he said.

He made these remarks while appearing before the Parliamentary Committee to defend the 2024/2025 National Budget at Parliament on January 8, 2024.

The doctor argued that people would not want to put their money where another country’s name is used, yet they are the main funders and implementing partners.

“The government feels the Chinese are helping us, yet they are not; all they bring is in kind, and usually it’s the needles and gloves, among others. Those who would have wished to fund the hospital cannot because another country’s name appears on the hospital,” Dr. Tugaineyo said.

China-Uganda Friendship Hospital Naguru (CUFH-N), donated by the government of the People’s Republic of China, was completed and handed over to the government of Uganda on January 6, 2012, with the aim of decongesting Mulago National Referral Hospital. It is the only general public hospital serving an estimated three million inhabitants in the Kampala Metropolitan area.