Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, located in the heart of Uganda’s Bunyoro region, has marked a major milestone in healthcare by unveiling a modern Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This new addition is part of the Uganda Covid-19 Response and Emergency Preparedness Project (UCREPP) aims to strengthen the hospital’s capacity to offer critical care services to a large and diverse population.
With a bed capacity of 267, Hoima Regional Referral Hospital serves a vast population estimated at 3.5 million people spread across eight districts that includ Kakumiro, Kagadi, and Kikube. Dr. Ibrahim Bwaga, the Acting Director and a trained obstetrician, emphasized that the hospital is a key healthcare provider for the region, which is home to not only a sizable local population but also refugee communities from settlements like Kyangwari and Panyadoli.
Dr. Bwaga pointed out that due to the region’s hilly terrain and significant refugee populations, many districts lack access to comprehensive emergency obstetric care. Hoima Hospital, therefore, plays an indispensable role in providing urgent and life-saving services, especially for mothers and newborns.
The newly built ICU represents a major leap in healthcare and a substantial improvement in the hospital’s ability to handle critically ill patients. Dr. Bwaga noted that this upgrade allows the hospital to provide services that were previously unavailable in the region, including dialysis treatments. This will significantly reduce the need for patients to travel long distances to receive specialized care.
Hoima Regional Referral Hospital continues to expand its services, offering a wide range of holistic healthcare services, including health promotion, disease prevention, diagnostic services, curative treatments, rehabilitation, and palliative care. These efforts are all aligned with the hospital’s mission to meet the healthcare needs of the region’s diverse population and enhance the overall well-being of the community.
Dr. Bwaga expressed deep appreciation for the government’s support in making these critical upgrades possible, acknowledging the positive impact they will have on the region’s healthcare system.
The Uganda Covid-19 Response and Emergency Preparedness Project (UCREPP) is investing over 8 billion shillings in a new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to improve healthcare services in the region. According to Doreen Nshabohurira, the Communications Officer (UCREPP), the ICU, being constructed by Excel Company Limited, will feature advanced medical facilities that will include 20 fully equipped rooms, isolation facilities, waiting rooms, power rooms, pharmacies, surgery rooms, boardrooms, counseling rooms, and theater facilities. The installation of necessary medical equipment is expected to be completed within five months, improving the quality of healthcare services in the region.
In a nutshell, the opening of the new ICU, along with the installation of the oxygen plant and blood bank, marks a turning point in the healthcare landscape of Hoima and the surrounding districts. As Hoima Regional Referral Hospital continues to develop, it remains a vital resource for the people of Bunyoro, providing life-saving services and strengthening the region’s ability to respond to emergencies. Happy New 2025.
Communications Officer
Government Citizen Interaction Centre
State House.
