President Yoweri Museveni in a group photo with the owners of the health facility and some members of the board. This was during the commissioning of a medical centre and nursing university at Magere in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso district on Sunday (November 2). (Photos by Mpalanyi Ssentogo)

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President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned a sh90b medical centre and nursing university at Magere in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso district.

While commissioning the facility on Sunday (November 2), Museveni praised the founders of the hospital for employing cost-effective methods in its construction.

He said his visit was to offer moral support and pledged government assistance after the elections.

The President further commended private hospitals for their efficiency, noting that they play a vital role in reducing pressure on government health facilities.

Museveni highlighted that the NRM manifesto emphasises peace, development, jobs, service delivery, wealth creation, and market opportunities. He said the government continues to work hard to lift people out of poverty, in line with the manifesto's priorities.

The President called on local area chairpersons to assist in the fight against corruption.

He also urged citizens to embrace patriotism and Pan-Africanism for survival and called for political integration of East Africa to strengthen regional unity.

Davis Ikiriza, chairman of Karis Medical Hospital, expressed gratitude to Museveni for his visionary leadership, noting that it has fostered a stable and enabling environment where Ugandan investors can dream, build, and thrive.

He explained that the new facility will focus on training Ugandans to acquire the skills necessary to compete both locally and internationally.

Ikiriza said the five-storey hospital will have 125 inpatient beds, 18 intensive care units, four delivery suites, and a comprehensive radiology department equipped with MRI, CT scan, and X-ray services.

He added that the university will have fully equipped laboratories, a virtual reality training room, chapel, library, cafeteria, and modern lecture suites designed to promote excellence in science, research, and innovation.

“From the lessons we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that a medical facility has many intensive care units, regardless of the cost,” Ikiriza said.

He revealed that the facility, which sits on a three-acre piece of land, is scheduled to officially open to the public in December next year. So far, $6m (sh20b) has been invested in the project, including the cost of land acquisition.

Ikiriza commended Museveni for his guidance and commitment to fostering strategic partnerships between the government and the private sector to enhance access to high-quality healthcare.

“Together, we can safeguard national sovereignty while advancing the Vision 2040 agenda and the NRM goals of socio-economic transformation. This project demonstrates that Ugandans nurtured under your leadership have the capacity to design and build world-class infrastructure,” Ikiriza stated.