100 years later, ailing Masindi General Hospital to be rehabilitated, expanded

Masindi: Nearly a century after it was established as a railway dispensary, Masindi General Hospital is finally set for a major transformation following the launch of rehabilitation and expansion project by the Government of Uganda ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.

The six month project being undertaken by National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) Construction Works and Engineering Limited costing 58 billion shillings is expected to be completed by December 31, 2026.

Masindi General Hospital was constructed in the 1920s as a dispensary for Uganda Railways and was originally designed to serve about 50,000 people. Today, however, the facility serves more than 500,000 residents from Masindi, Kiryandongo, Nakasongola, Buliisa, Hoima and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The six-month project is expected to be completed by December 31, 2026, and forms part of government investments aimed at improving healthcare infrastructure and supporting Uganda’s preparations for AFCON 2027.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, June 12, 2026 at Masindi Hospital, Prime Minister Robina Nabbanja said government remains committed to improving healthcare services across the country and revealed that Shs91 billion has been earmarked for the rehabilitation and expansion of three health facilities in the Bunyoro sub-region.

The facilities include Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, the upgrade of Buseruka Health Centre III to Health Centre IV, and the elevation of Masindi General Hospital to Regional Referral Hospital status.

“Government is committed to ensuring that our people access quality healthcare services. These investments will strengthen healthcare delivery and improve access to specialized treatment in the region,” Nabbanja said.

The Prime Minister also urged residents and business operators to prepare for opportunities that will come with Uganda’s co-hosting of AFCON 2027.

She challenged hotel operators, market vendors and other entrepreneurs to improve hospitality standards and position themselves to benefit from the expected influx of visitors.

“AFCON 2027 presents enormous opportunities for our people. We must prepare ourselves to benefit from the economic activities and investments that will come with the tournament,” she said.

Nabbanja further called on business owners in Masindi Town to improve the appearance of their premises and maintain proper sanitation, revealing that government has allocated Shs5.2 billion for garbage collection and waste management.

“We want Masindi to be clean, attractive and ready to welcome visitors. Every stakeholder has a role to play in improving hygiene and beautifying the town,” she added.

Eng. Brian Buhanda, the General Manager of NEC Construction Works and Engineering Limited, thanked government for entrusting the company with the project and pledged timely completion.

He encouraged residents to seize business opportunities that will emerge during construction, noting that NEC will source materials such as sand, bricks, stones and timber locally.

“This project will not only improve healthcare infrastructure but will also create business opportunities for local communities through the supply of construction materials and services,” Buhanda said.

Buhanda also said they are going to construct new structures and do face-lifting of the old structures.

Dr. Charles Ayume, the State Minister for Primary Health Care said the upgraded facility would continue serving Ugandans and foreign nationals long after AFCON 2027.

“The infrastructure we are constructing today is not only for AFCON. It will serve generations of Ugandans and must therefore be maintained according to international standards,” Ayume said.

Samuel Ruhweza Kaija, the Masindi Chief Administrative Officer appealed to government to establish health facilities in underserved areas including Kijunjubwa Sub-county, Kabango Town Council, Kigulya Division and Labongo Sub-county, which currently lack health centres.

Dr. Rogers Musinguzi, the Acting Executive Consultant at Masindi General Hospital raised concerns over severe understaffing at the facility.

He revealed that staffing levels currently stand at only 38 percent, a situation he said continues to affect service delivery despite the increasing number of patients seeking treatment.

“While we welcome this expansion project, staffing remains one of our biggest challenges. Addressing the human resource gap will be critical to maximizing the benefits of the upgraded facility,” Musinguzi said.

He pledged that the hospital administration would closely monitor the implementation of the project to ensure quality work and value for money.

Rogers Amanyire, the Masindi Municipality Mayor welcomed the project, saying it would attract specialists and consultants and significantly improve healthcare services in the district.

Residents also expressed excitement about the development.

Joyce Aliganyira, a caretaker, said congestion has been one of the biggest challenges at the hospital, with patients often forced to share wards because of limited space.

“Patients have been sharing wards because of congestion. The expansion will create more space and improve the quality of services offered at the hospital,” she said.

Once completed, the upgraded facility is expected to transform healthcare delivery in the Bunyoro sub-region while strengthening Uganda’s readiness to host AFCON 2027.

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