The Government of the United Arab Emirates has launched the construction of a specialized referral hospital in Entebbe, a project expected to strengthen Uganda’s capacity to handle complex head and neck medical conditions.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Emirates Specialty Hospital was officiated by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan.
Speaking at the event, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine said the 100-bed hospital would specialize in ear, nose and throat (ENT) treatment, ophthalmology, maxillofacial surgery, neurosurgery and spine surgery.
“This hospital is going to concentrate on specialized areas of the eyes, ENT and surgeries concerning the head and neck,” Atwine said. “Along the way, we shall also introduce other specialties like neurosurgery and spine surgery.”
According to Atwine, construction of the facility is expected to start next month and be completed by May 2027, after which it will be handed over fully equipped to the Ugandan government.
She said the government was already planning for staffing and operational structures to ensure the hospital becomes functional immediately after completion.
“We believe that by the time construction is completed, government will have the human resource and systems in place to fully operationalize the hospital,” she said.
The hospital is expected to handle referrals from across Africa, positioning Uganda as a regional hub for specialized healthcare services.
Atwine described the project as a gift from the UAE government delivered through President Yoweri Museveni and thanked the Gulf nation for supporting Uganda’s health sector.
The UAE government will finance and construct the hospital before handing over a complete facility to Uganda, officials said.
The project comes amid ongoing government efforts to expand specialized medical care and reduce the number of Ugandans seeking expensive treatment abroad.