UGANDA—Ugandans that have been seeking specialty healthcare outside the country can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) broke ground on the US$100 million University hospital complex.

The Aga Khan University celebrated the start of construction of its new campus in Kampala at a ceremony attended by the First Lady of Uganda, Her Excellency Janet Museveni, and Princess Zahra Aga Khan. 

The 60 acres campus will be in Nakawa, Kampala and its first phase of construction will comprise a seven-storey University Centre, a nine-storey student housing building, and the Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala.

The land for the campus and hospital was generously provided by the Government of Uganda, and speakers expressed their gratitude to His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni for his vision and his strong support of the project.

Funding for construction was provided by His Highness the Aga Khan, generous donors, and the Government of Germany’s BMZ and KfW as well as the East African Community. 

The University will be the AKDN’s single largest investment to date and represents the country’s single largest private investment in healthcare to date.

The hospital will provide comprehensive healthcare services, including education, training, and research, to ensure the delivery of top-notch medical treatment, particularly for non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, mental and neurological disorders, and cancer.

This initiative will play a vital role within the extensive healthcare system of the Aga Khan Development Network in East Africa.

The Aga Khan Health Services, a part of AKDN, currently operates five hospitals and nearly 100 clinics, catering to over 1.5 million patients annually in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Furthermore, this new development will facilitate a significant expansion of the existing School of Nursing and Midwifery in Kampala, allowing for enhanced training opportunities.

Additionally, the University will commence training medical specialists in specialized fields such as internal medicine and surgery.

Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin, the Vice-Chancellor of the Agha Khan University Hospital, stated that the construction’s initial phase, costing US$100 million, is scheduled for completion in 2026, featuring a 150-bed wing.

However, the ultimate objective is to establish a capacity of 600 beds. If all goes according to plan, the facility will be accessible to students by 2025, with patient admissions commencing shortly thereafter.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan emphasized the Aga Khan Development Network’s objective in East Africa: to establish a network of clinics and hospitals that bring primary care closer to communities, while also ensuring seamless access to advanced care. The facility aims to have highly trained clinicians, advanced technologies, and the capacity to address the region’s evolving disease burden.

Her Excellency Janet Museveni, Minister of Education and Sports, expressed confidence in the facility’s ability to produce a new generation of skilled nurses and midwives who will support Uganda’s healthcare sector in the future.

The minister, who is also the country’s First Lady, eagerly anticipates witnessing the project’s success and believes it will provide Ugandans with high-quality healthcare services and nurture outstanding leaders in the field.

Aga Khan Development Network’s 23 years of impact in Uganda

For the past 23 years, the Aga Khan Development Network has been actively involved in Uganda, notably through its Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery located in Kampala.

The school has successfully graduated 1,300 skilled nurses and midwives who are now serving in both government and private healthcare institutions across urban and rural areas throughout the country.

Uganda faces a significant healthcare challenge, particularly in the field of cancer treatment. According to data from the Uganda Cancer Institute in 2022, around 33,000 Ugandans are diagnosed with cancer annually.

Regrettably, only 7,400 patients have access to cancer treatment within the country’s health facilities, with more than 80% seeking treatment when the disease has already reached advanced stages.

A report by Uganda’s Auditor-General highlighted that the government has expended approximately US$2.9 million on the medical treatment of about 140 senior government officials abroad.

These treatments mainly targeted heart and kidney conditions, cancer, and diabetes, with hospitals in Kenya, South Africa, India, and China being the primary destinations.

Sadly, many Ugandans have had to resort to fundraising to cover the costs of medical treatment for their relatives and friends abroad.

This has resulted in a total healthcare expenditure abroad, both for public and private individuals, reaching a staggering US$6.7 million.

Given this context, health experts are optimistic that the new hospital complex will serve as a valuable supplement to the government’s efforts in providing specialized treatment to patients and reducing mortality rates.

The presence of the hospital is expected to alleviate the burden on Ugandans who currently face challenges accessing advanced medical care, particularly for complex conditions such as cancer.

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