Uganda begins construction of US$ 73M heart hospital in Kampala

UGANDA – Uganda has officially launched the construction of a new heart hospital, which will significantly expand the country’s capacity for cardiac care.

The Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) is leading the US$ 73 million project, which will be located at the Naguru–Nakawa Government Complex in Kampala.

Construction of the hospital commenced in February 2025, with Uganda’s Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony.

The first phase of the facility will feature 250 beds, including 40 dedicated to critical cardiac care, three operating rooms, and two cardiac catheterization labs. The hospital is expected to open commercially in the first quarter of 2027.

Plans for the heart institute’s new home started as early as 2015, when the government first proposed a 200-bed facility to replace the aging UHI within Mulago Hospital.

The new institute will operate independently, similar to the Uganda Cancer Institute, allowing it to hire staff, raise funds, and manage operations separately from Mulago.

By November 2016, UHI had secured 2.5 acres of land in the Mulago area, where it initially planned to construct a complex with three towers for clinical care, research, and staff housing.

However, in April 2022, a larger 10-acre site was acquired in Naguru, enabling more ambitious expansion.

“This new hospital will save Uganda an estimated $73 million every year that is currently spent sending top government officials abroad for treatment,” said Dr. John Omagino, UHI Executive Director.

In July 2022, UHI secured significant financial backing for the project – a US$ 75 million loan from a group of Middle Eastern financiers, including the Saudi Fund for Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development, and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa.

As of March 2024, the total disbursed amount stood at USh 223 billion, equivalent to US$ 61 million in current value.

The hospital will be built in phases, expanding from 250 beds in the first phase to 500 beds and eventually to 1,000 beds.

Once completed, it will be able to conduct up to 5,000 heart surgeries per year, a big leap from the 1,000 currently performed in the limited space at Mulago.

The engineering and construction contract, worth US$ 45.4 million, was awarded to Arab Contractors Uganda Limited.

Although the contract was contested by two Chinese firms, a government tribunal upheld the decision in Q3 2024. Full-scale construction is set to begin in late 2024.

With the new hospital, Uganda aims to become a regional leader in heart treatment and research, providing advanced cardiac care locally and saving lives without the cost and delays of overseas referrals.