MBARARA. Government has announced a Shs 25 billion investment to set up a new College of Health Sciences at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)
The initiative is aimed at improving the country’s capacity to train medical specialists and strengthen the health sector.
Speaking during MUST graduation ceremony on Saturday, Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze said the investment is part of a five-year plan to develop the Kihumuro Campus into a modern centre of excellence in medical training and research.
“This state-of-the-art facility will position MUST as a premier centre for medical excellence,” Tumwebaze said.
“We are determined to bridge the gap between our national health needs and the limited number of specialists available in areas such as cardiothoracic surgery, pulmonology, nuclear medicine, geriatrics, and oncology.”
Mr Tumwebaze had represented the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni at the function.
The First Lady’s message noted that Uganda faces a “silent crisis” in specialized healthcare, with a shortage of experts to manage complex diseases.
She said the government’s investment will help produce more local specialists and reduce the need to send patients abroad for treatment.
The College of Health Sciences project will receive Shs 25 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, with additional funding over the next four years to complete the facility.
“We are trying to win a 21st-century health war with a 20th-century arsenal,” the statement read. “MUST be the pioneer that helps Uganda bridge this gap.”
MUST currently has more than 6,600 students and continues to play a vital role in building Uganda’s human capital in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The First Lady hailed the university’s contribution to producing scientists and innovators who are helping to drive Uganda’s transformation agenda.
She said the government’s focus under the ATM-S priorities — Agro-processing, Tourism, Mineral Development, and Science & Technology — requires strong academic institutions like MUST to provide the necessary skills and innovations to support industrial growth.
The First Lady also praised the University for Training 75 percent of its academic staff to align with Uganda’s new Competence-Based Curriculum, urging the completion of this transition by 2026.
She encouraged the university leadership to prioritise postgraduate programmes in medical and scientific fields where Uganda faces training gaps.
“The direction in which education starts a nation will determine its future,” the speech emphasised, quoting the philosopher Plato.