Not Yet Enough! Lubowa Hospital Saga Deepens As Gov’t Seeks More UGX100 Billion

The Ministry of Health Uganda has requested UGX100 billion in the 2026/27 financial year to operationalise the long-awaited International Specialised Hospital of Uganda, as construction reaches 70 percent completion.

Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng revealed the funding request while presenting the ministry’s policy statement before Parliament’s Health Committee on April 10, 2026. The proposal is part of a broader increase in the health sector budget, which is set to rise from UGX4.487 trillion to UGX5.155 trillion.

Dr Aceng said the requested funds will cater for staff wages, utilities, and other operational costs ahead of the hospital’s expected completion and handover by December 2026.

“We have now begun the programme of recruitment and training,” she told the committee, adding that preparations are underway to ensure the facility is functional immediately after construction is completed.

The Lubowa-based hospital, designed as a 264-bed tertiary facility, is expected to offer specialised services including cancer treatment, organ transplants, and advanced cardiac and kidney surgeries—services that currently force many Ugandans to seek treatment abroad.

However, the project has continued to draw scrutiny from lawmakers over its cost, ownership structure, and delays. Bukomansimbi North MP Christine Nandagire questioned why the facility was not listed among government health institutions and sought clarity on its status.

In response, Dr Aceng affirmed that the hospital is “a hundred percent government facility,” despite being developed under a Public-Private Partnership framework guided by the Public Private Partnerships Act 2015.

Construction of the hospital began in 2019 under a partnership involving an Italian-led consortium, Finasi, and Uganda’s ROKO Construction, backed by a government guarantee approved by Parliament. The project was initially expected to be completed in 2021 but has faced repeated delays due to financing challenges, legal disputes, and oversight concerns.

As of December 2025, the government had committed approximately UGX771 billion to the project, with additional funds expected to be released in the upcoming financial year to complete construction works.

Beyond Lubowa, the ministry outlined several other priorities in the proposed budget, including investments in diagnostic equipment, ambulance services, and upgrades to regional health facilities across the country.

While the government says the Lubowa hospital will significantly boost Uganda’s capacity for specialised healthcare and reduce medical referrals abroad, critics argue that greater investment is still needed in primary healthcare, including addressing medicine shortages and staffing gaps.

The project remains a key component of Uganda’s broader health sector reforms under the National Development Plan III, aimed at improving access to quality healthcare services nationwide.