The Hoima Catholic Diocese has launched a fundraising drive to raise sh40b for the construction of a children’s and women's hospital in Hoima city. 

Diocesan health coordinator, the Rev. Fr. Davis Mugisa, said on Monday, June 14, that the diocesan administration prioritised the construction of the hospital this financial year after realising that they lack a well-equipped medical facility to handle specialised treatment for the children and the women in Bunyoro region. 

Works to start 

Mugisa added that the construction works for the St Mary’s Children and Women Specialised hospital will start before the end of this month. 

He said the diocese had inaugurated a committee chaired by the former energy ministry permanent secretary, Kabagambe Kaliisa, to oversee the construction works. 

“The design is out, and we expect to start the first phase this month. We are appealing to the people to contribute towards this project because it is aimed at improving maternal health in the region,” Mugisa said. 

Mugisa said that the diocese had chosen to construct a specialised hospital to mitigate the maternal and childhood health challenges that Bunyoro is facing. 

“Bunyoro has the third-highest infant mortality rate and has the second-highest childhood stunting rates in the country at 12.5%. A special hospital in the region will, therefore, significantly offer appropriate quality paediatric and maternal services that are accessible and affordable and effectively utilised by all, including the less privileged, to further the healing ministry of Christ and promote life to the full,” he added. 

Mugisa said the hospital's initial bed capacity will be 182 but will rise to 272 in general wards and 46 private beds by the end of the project. 

Hoima Catholic Diocesan chancellor the Rev. Fr. Dominic Ndugwa said they had already started collecting funds from different partners to kick start the project. 

“The hospital will be owned by the diocese of Hoima with a board of directors to provide policy and strategic guidance to the management team,” Ndugwa said. 

He added that the diocese had already received overwhelming support from the local population for the project. 

The Rev. Fr. Jude Tadeo Ssemambo, the publicity secretary for the construction committee, said the diocese had already secured a contractor who will undertake the construction works. 

“The structural design has already been approved and we are set for the first phase. We expect work to last for not more than seven years because it’s a huge project,” Ssemambo said. 

Harriet Birungi, a resident of Bujumbura, said some of the prices of the services offered in government and private hospitals leave many women stranded. 

She highlights the cost of reconstructive surgery of the womb as being too high and that most families cannot afford the prices. 

“We support the church's move to set up a highly specialised hospital for children and women in the region, but when it opens, they should not charge people a lot of money. We have women who are living with diseases such as fistula, but cannot access medical services,” Birungi said.