Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has directed stakeholders involved in the Uganda Heart Institute's infrastructure development project to complete the new 250-bed cardiac hospital on time. She emphasized that no delays should be tolerated in the project, which aims to transform cardiac care in Uganda.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Naguru on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni, Nabbanja stressed the urgency of completing the facility by 2027.
“Delays, I repeat, should not be entertained at any level. The people of Uganda deserve a fully operational, world-class Heart Institute within the agreed timeframe of two years. That means 2027, this facility must be ready,” she said.
She attributed the rising demand for specialized cardiac care to the increasing burden of cardiovascular diseases, which remain the leading cause of death globally.
Minister of Health Dr. Ruth Aceng called for strict monitoring of the project to ensure it meets international standards and serves as a center of excellence for Uganda and the region. She clarified that while the Uganda Heart Institute already has modern equipment, it lacks adequate space.
“With today’s groundbreaking, we begin a new journey of constructing a world-class cardiovascular facility,” Aceng said. “This is not to say where we have been is not world-class. It is very small. But it has all the ultra-modern equipment. So we need bigger space, and that is the journey we are beginning on.”
She urged contractors and project managers to maintain high-quality work and deliver results on time.
The new hospital, set to occupy 10 acres, will include three main blocks: a clinical block, an administration block, and a research center. It will house three operating theatres, two catheterization labs, and 40 state-of-the-art cardiac intensive care units.
The project, funded by the Government of Uganda with a $70 million loan from OPEC Fund, BADEA, and the Saudi Fund for Development, aims to reduce medical referrals abroad, improve specialized training, and position Uganda as a regional leader in cardiovascular care.
