Government to construct Shs100b military hospital at Mbuya

Kampala- The Ministry of Defence is set to construct a national military referral hospital that will see government save billions of shillings spent on treating army officers abroad.

The Shs100 billion hospital to be constructed at Lower Mbuya military barracks in Kampala will treat Ugandan soldiers who are injured in foreign missions as well as treat civilians.

“Construction of the state-of-the-art 250-bed diagnostic and treatment facility is expected to start as soon as possible because the necessary funds have already been secured for the work,” a statement issued by Defence said.
Currently, Ugandan soldiers injured in Somalia are treated at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi.

The army spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, told Daily Monitor in an interview yesterday that the ministry has opened bids for both local and foreign contenders and issued a prequalification notice for the construction work.
“According to the procurement schedule, receipt of pre-qualification submission and the evaluation of expressions of interest has already closed. Display of shortlist is expected by April 30, 2015,” Col Ankunda said.

The funds to build the hospital are part of the savings made out of the UN reimbursements to Uganda for wear and tear of its military equipment.
The UN compensates Uganda for its military equipment and vehicles deployed in Somalia to fight the al shabaab militants.

The UPDF deputy chief of Medical services, Brig Dr Ambrose Musinguzi, said the hospital is part of the ministry’s commitment to improving the welfare of its workers and their families.

Civilians will also access the facility. It will be constructed in phases.
“Phase one will see the construction of all departments except cancer unit. In later phases, we shall also witness the construction of a medical school as part of the project,” Brig Musinguzi said.
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