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By Goodluck Musinguzi
The government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Health, has built a satellite laboratory at Lira Regional Referral Hospital in Lira City.
Built at the cost of Shs4.5 billion under the COVID-19 response and emergency project with funding from the World Bank, Lira Regional Referral Hospital is equipped with a variety of medical and diagnostic instruments designed to enhance patient care, facilitate research, and support public health efforts. The laboratory features several key pieces of equipment, including:
While commissioning the facility on Friday, March 14th, 2025, Minister of Health Dr. Jane Aceng Ochero, also the Lira City Woman MP (NRM), said the unit is further equipped with microscopes for analyzing blood smears, tissue samples, and microbiological specimens to diagnose diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis; centrifuges for separating blood components (plasma, serum, cells) for various diagnostic tests, including hematology and biochemistry.
Other special machines installed at the laboratory include autoclaves for sterilizing laboratory equipment, media, and waste to prevent contamination and maintain a sterile environment; hematology analyzers for conducting complete blood counts (CBC) to evaluate red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelets, aiding in the diagnosis of anemia and other blood disorders.
The unit is also furnished with biochemistry analyzers for measuring chemical components in blood and other bodily fluids (such as glucose and cholesterol) to assess organ function and metabolic conditions.
According to Dr. Aceng, the lab is equipped with PCR machines (Polymerase Chain Reaction) for amplifying DNA/RNA to detect infectious diseases (including HIV, hepatitis, and COVID-19) and genetic disorders, ELISA readers (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) for identifying antibodies or antigens in blood samples to diagnose infections and autoimmune diseases, among other applications.
She cautioned health workers against mistreating patients, emphasizing the importance of respectful and compassionate care.
Dr. Andrew Odur, the acting LRRA Director, said beginning June 2025, the facility will implement digitalization.
“This advancement will eliminate the need for patients to bring physical health record books, as healthcare professionals will utilize computers to document health data,” said Dr. Odur.
Dr. Diana Atwine, the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, said the facility will support research and enhance health service deliveries.
“The researchers at Lira University will use this laboratory to do research without sending their samples to Kampala; they should make good use of this facility. The machines we’ve put in this lab can test for cancer, every virus, and bacteria. They can test and tell you which drugs suit your disease,” said Dr. Atwiine.
“I heard that the previous government used to supply alcohol; the NRM government is prioritizing service delivery. We shall be the first African country to have this vaccine. It needs lobbying!,” Minister Aceng said.
“I request you to stop buying drugs from drug shops, please visit the hospital so that you’re diagnosed. We have quite a number of testing machines that are functional at LRRH. Please prioritize testing for your sugar levels and pressure; don’t forget to do regular exercise.”
Lira Regional Referral Hospital serves Lango, Acholi, Teso, and Karamojong communities.
