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Kabale ICU Construction at 75% complete
By Goodluck Musinguzi
The construction of a modern Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital has reached 75 percent completion, according to project engineers. The UGX 8.6 billion project, funded by the International Development Agency under the Uganda COVID-19 Response and Emergency Preparedness Project (UCREPP), commenced in September 2023 and is being implemented by HASO Engineers Company Limited under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, with a 15-month completion timeframe.
Similar ICU facilities are concurrently under construction at Arua and Hoima regional referral hospitals, serving the Northern and Bunyoro sub-regions, respectively.
Engineer David Businge, the site manager for HASO Engineers, said roofing is complete and plastering is ongoing. However, 21 aluminum windows, waterproofing on the ramps, and Pompeys on the ramp sides are yet to be fixed. External works such as compound design and landscaping have also not commenced.
Businge attributed the delay to changes in design and noted that it is not practical for the works to be completed by the end of this financial year as initially planned. He said the team is requesting a one-month extension to finalize the remaining work.
Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Senior Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health, confirmed that the works stand at 75 percent. However, he stated that no formal discussions have been held regarding an extension for the contractor. He added that beyond ICU services, the facility will also house dialysis, theatre, and neonatal care units.
In a significant milestone for healthcare in the region, the Ugandan government, under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, has officially commenced the construction of a state-of-the-art multibillion-shilling Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital.
The complex, with a budget of UGX 8,586,169,640, has been entrusted to HASO Engineers Company Limited for construction and will be closely supervised by Arch DESIGN Limited to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety.
Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, situated in southwestern Uganda, has long been a lifeline for residents of the Kigezi region. However, despite its crucial role in healthcare delivery, it has faced challenges when it comes to critical care services. Dr. Filbert Nyeko, the hospital’s director, highlighted this issue, explaining that the facility frequently receives patients not only from within the district but also from neighboring countries such as Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kabale Regional Referral Hospital faced the daunting task of caring for critically ill patients without a dedicated ICU. Dr. Nyeko expressed the hospital’s gratitude for the new ICU, stating, “We needed the ICU during the COVID-19 times, and we improvised by all means possible. The coming of these ICU services makes our regional hospital better and is a game changer.”
Dr. Ananias Muhunde, the Chairperson of the hospital’s board, emphasized the importance of the ICU in fulfilling the hospital’s role as a true referral center. “This ICU gives the full meaning of a referral hospital,” he stated. “Now we can provide comprehensive care and reduce the need to refer patients elsewhere.”
Representing Hon. Anifa Kawooya Bangirana, State Minister for Health in charge of General Duties, Dr. Patrick Tusiime, the Commissioner of Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, urged the contractor to complete the project efficiently. He assured the contractor that all necessary funds for construction were available.
The contract specifies that the construction period should last no more than fifteen months, with a one-year defects liability period. The project is financially supported by the International Development Agency (IDA), demonstrating Uganda’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and services.
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