Uganda Heart Institute to build four cardiac hospital
CAPTION: Doctors during a surgy recently at Uganda Heart Institute. (File photo).
By Stephen Wandera Ouma
KAMPALA – Uganda Heart Institute has requested government for more funds to address the high cases of heart disease among new born babies. According to Dr John Omagino, the Executive Director, Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) about 16,000 children are born with congenital heart defects, heart problems present at birth.
“They happen when the heart does not develop normally before birth. About 1 percent of infants (16,000) are born with one or more heart or circulatory problems. We do not know the cause of congenital heart defects, but they do know of some conditions that increase a child’s risk of being born with a heart defect,” he said.
Addressing journalists during a stakeholder’ meeting at Hotel Africana June 17th, 2025, Dr Omagino identified the condition.
“Congenital heart disease in the baby’s mother or father, diabetes in the mother, german measles, toxoplasmosis (an infection that is passed through contact with cat feces), or HIV infection in the mother. Alcohol abuse, use of cocaine or other drugs and use of certain over-the-counter and prescription medicines during pregnancy,” he further explained.
CAPTION: Dr John Omagino, the Executive Director, Uganda Heart Institute. (Photo by Stephen Wandera Ouma).
Dr Omagino said with this prevailing challenge, UHI requires increased funding to address the problem.
“We need to do more research on the disease but government only funds 40 percent of the research we do. The rest we depend on donor funds. We are currently constructing of a new, state-of-the-art 250-bed capacity cardiac hospital in Naguru. This milestone marks a significant step forward in Uganda’s commitment to providing world-class cardiovascular care and reducing the burden of heart disease in the country and the region,” he said.
Adding, “This project signals the government’s dedication to improving specialized healthcare services in alignment with Uganda’s Vision 2040. But we need more of these hospitals, we intend to build more in Lira, Mbarara, Jinja and Hoima. We are also calling on government to provide scholarship to student to pursue cardiothoracic surgery who will be deployed in the new hospitals.”
Uganda Heart Institute milestones
Over the years, the UHI has made significant strides in advancing cardiac care. Key milestones include:
- 2008/09 – UHI was granted self-accounting status, enabling better budget management and strategic planning.
- 2010 – Procurement of Uganda’s first post-independence Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) for diagnosing and treating heart conditions.
- 2012 – Commissioning of the Cath Lab, which greatly reduced the need for Ugandans to seek cardiac treatment abroad.
- 2016 – Enactment of the Uganda Heart Institute Act, granting UHI increased autonomy and operational efficiency.
- 2024 – Upgrade of the Cath Lab to a new, state-of-the-art facility, further reinforcing UHI’s capacity for specialized cardiac care.
The New UHI Home: A Game-Changer in Cardiac Care
With the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Uganda, the need for a dedicated, modern cardiac facility has never been more pressing. The Government, through the Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development, has secured USD 70 million in external financing from BADEA, OPEC Fund, and SFD to support the construction of the 250-bed capacity hospital.
The new facility will feature:
- A cutting-edge, fully equipped cardiac hospital to address the growing demand for heart healthcare.
- Expanded capacity to reduce patient referrals abroad, making advanced treatment accessible locally.
- A dedicated training and research center to enhance expertise in cardiovascular medicine.
- Increased job opportunities for healthcare professionals, strengthening Uganda’s medical workforce.
