Uganda Martyrs Hospital Ibanda commissions new medical laboratory to expand diagnostic services
Previously, patients requiring tests unavailable at the hospital had to wait while their samples were transported to facilities in Mbarara.
UGANDA—Uganda Martyrs Hospital Ibanda has commissioned a modern medical laboratory to expand diagnostic services and reduce the need to refer patients’ samples to facilities in Mbarara for specialized testing.
The Archbishop of Mbarara Archdiocese, Rev. Lambert Bainomugisha, officially commissioned the facility on Friday during a ceremony attended by Christine Nimwesiga, Registrar of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council.
The new laboratory will allow the hospital to perform a wider range of diagnostic tests on-site.
As a result, clinicians are expected to receive test results more quickly, enabling them to make faster decisions about patient treatment.
Speaking during the ceremony, the hospital’s Medical Director, Dr. Gothaldo Tumubugane, said the facility addresses a longstanding gap in the hospital’s laboratory capacity.
“The hospital has been facing challenges in carrying out some laboratory tests, and we have been referring samples to other facilities in Mbarara. This has been inconveniencing our patients and delaying treatment. With this new laboratory, we are confident that the quality and efficiency of our laboratory services will greatly improve,” Tumubugane said.
Previously, patients requiring tests unavailable at the hospital had to wait while their samples were transported to facilities in Mbarara.
The additional transportation and processing time could delay diagnosis and the start of treatment.
Nursing and midwifery graduates enter workforce
The laboratory commissioning coincided with the graduation of more than 200 students from Ibanda School of Nursing and Midwifery.
The graduates completed certificate and diploma programmes in nursing and midwifery and are now joining Uganda’s healthcare workforce.
Their entry comes as health facilities continue to require qualified professionals to provide patient care and support growing healthcare needs.
As the chief guest, Nimwesiga urged the graduates to uphold professional standards, integrity, and compassion throughout their careers.
“Integrity is the foundation of the nursing profession. Wherever you go to serve, let honesty, discipline and compassion define your work,”she said.
“At the same time, embrace lifelong learning because healthcare continues to evolve, and you must keep improving your knowledge and skills,”
She also encouraged the graduates to pursue continuous professional development and recognise that their responsibilities extend beyond technical expertise to include ethical and compassionate patient care.
Archbishop urges graduates to prioritise patients
In his pastoral message, Archbishop Bainomugisha reminded the graduates that nursing requires dedication and a willingness to put patients’ needs before personal comfort.
“Nursing is not just a profession; it is a vocation. Be resilient, embrace self-denial, and be willing to forego personal comfort in order to serve those in need. The people you care for are depending on your dedication and compassion,” Bainomugisha said.
He urged the graduates to uphold the values of the nursing and midwifery professions and serve as ambassadors of quality healthcare wherever they are deployed.
Hospital officials said the new laboratory will strengthen access to diagnostic services in Ibanda and surrounding areas by bringing more testing closer to patients and reducing delays associated with referring samples to other facilities.
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