Health officials cannot afford to build a $9 million maternal health center at Hoima hospital, despite launching the project two years ago. The military construction arm received the contract in August 2023 but never started work, leaving the site empty. The hospital already tore down several wards to make room for the new building, creating severe overcrowding.
Hospital leaders planned a four-story facility with space for babies, children, pregnant women, surgeries, and lab tests. The government gave $310,000 to start foundation work on a 120-bed building. Because of high patient numbers, plans changed to double capacity to 250 beds, but no extra money arrived.
Military builders say the initial funds cannot even cover foundation costs. Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng admitted financial problems might force the government to seek loans for the project. Patients suffer as services move to inappropriate spaces — children occupy the former pregnancy care area, pregnant women use the vaccination room, and eye care shares space with gynecology.
The hospital serves about 3.5 million people from nine districts, including refugees from nearby settlements and Congo. It handles up to 1,000 patients daily with limited medicine, space, and blood supplies. The facility began as a tobacco company dispensary in 1910 before becoming a district hospital and later a regional center.
Hospital leaders planned a four-story facility with space for babies, children, pregnant women, surgeries, and lab tests. The government gave $310,000 to start foundation work on a 120-bed building. Because of high patient numbers, plans changed to double capacity to 250 beds, but no extra money arrived.
Military builders say the initial funds cannot even cover foundation costs. Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng admitted financial problems might force the government to seek loans for the project. Patients suffer as services move to inappropriate spaces — children occupy the former pregnancy care area, pregnant women use the vaccination room, and eye care shares space with gynecology.
The hospital serves about 3.5 million people from nine districts, including refugees from nearby settlements and Congo. It handles up to 1,000 patients daily with limited medicine, space, and blood supplies. The facility began as a tobacco company dispensary in 1910 before becoming a district hospital and later a regional center.
