The Ministry of Health has officiated the construction of a $250 million cardiac hospital directed towards aiding heart patients in Uganda and the region at large.
ED Ministry of Health, Dr John Omagino, stated that the official groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the 250-bed cardiac hospital will serve over 7,000 heart patients in Uganda and beyond.
Omagino made these remarks on February 4, 2025, at the Bed Cardiac Hospital in Naguru, Kampala, which is underway.
“With 10 floors, 250 beds (40 ICU), 3 operating theaters, & 2 catheterization labs, the new UHI hospital will provide world-class cardiovascular care,” Omagino said.
According to Omagino, the new institute is expected to significantly reduce the number of patients requiring treatment abroad. Currently, the Uganda Heart Institute at Mulago Hospital performs between 500 and 600 surgeries per year due to space constraints.
He added that the new cardiac hospital aligns with national health strategies aimed at improving access to cardiovascular care and reducing reliance on overseas medical services.
The Uganda Heart Institute has already initiated bidding for civil works, indicating that construction could begin soon.
On the related development Prime Minister Nabbanja Robinah said that the project aims at providing affordable and accessible cardiovascular treatment and care for all the people in Uganda, improving specialized teaching, training, and research; enhancing early prevention and awareness of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); reducing referrals abroad and promoting medical tourism in Uganda, among other things.
Health Minister Dr Jane-Ruth Acheng also tasked the project team to ensure quality and timely delivery of the project.
This development represents a crucial step forward in enhancing healthcare infrastructure in Uganda, particularly for cardiovascular health, which has been historically underserved.
The new facility is expected not only to improve patient outcomes but also to alleviate financial burdens on families seeking heart treatment abroad.
Cardiac Hospital is located on a 10-acre site in the Naguru-Nakawa Government Complex and aims to assist over 7,000 heart patients annually, addressing a critical need for specialized cardiac care in Uganda and the surrounding region.
