Members of Parliament have urged government to replicate the construction and cost-control approaches used in delivering the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) National Referral Hospital and the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA) headquarters in other public projects.
The MPs on the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs made the call on Wednesday after inspecting the two projects in Mbuya, Kampala.
Committee chairperson Robinah Rwakoojo said the inspection had enabled legislators to assess not only the physical progress of the projects but also their readiness to serve the intended beneficiaries.
Ms Rwakoojo said the committee was impressed by the developments at the UPDF National Referral Hospital, including the specialised medical services already being provided.
The 375-bed facility is nearing commissioning, with outpatient and specialised diagnostic services, including cancer screening, already operational for military personnel and civilians.
‘We are satisfied with the progress we have seen,’ Ms Rwakoojo said, adding that the committee would continue monitoring government projects to ensure they deliver the intended benefits.
Kampala District Woman MP Shamim Malende, who is also a member of the committee, said the two projects offered lessons for other government agencies on how to achieve value for money by investing in their own capacity and equipment.
Ms Malende said government should prioritise acquiring specialised equipment instead of repeatedly hiring machinery and other costly resources for major projects.
She said reliance on hired equipment could inflate project costs and contribute to delays, undermining the government’s ability to complete strategic infrastructure on time.
‘If government invests in its own specialised equipment, we can reduce the costs associated with hiring and also improve the speed at which projects are delivered,’ Ms Malende said.
She also said the hospital could help reduce the financial burden associated with referring patients abroad for specialised treatment once it is fully equipped and operational.
The facility was established partly to provide specialised and referral services to UPDF personnel and their families while also serving the wider public. Previous project documents have identified the high cost of referrals, including those outside Uganda, as one of the problems the hospital is intended to address.
Ms Malende said the committee’s oversight role was therefore important in ensuring that public investments translate into services rather than becoming stalled or costly projects.
The legislators’ assessment comes as the UPDF increasingly takes on roles in developing and managing its own infrastructure.
Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka said the hospital and the new ministry headquarters demonstrate the UPDF’s growing capacity to plan, construct and manage major infrastructure internally.
‘The hospital and headquarters demonstrate the UPDF’s growing capacity to develop and manage its own infrastructure,’ Mr Kiwanuka said.
He said the hospital had been constructed by the UPDF Engineering Brigade using savings from the force’s operations, while its medical services are managed by the UPDF Joint Staff Health Services.
Mr Kiwanuka said the hospital was nearing official commissioning and had already started providing outpatient and specialised diagnostic services.
The second project inspected by the committee was the twin-tower MoDVA headquarters, whose construction has reached 87.16 per cent completion.
The Shs94 billion project is expected to reach structural completion by December, with ministry leadership expected to move into the main building before the end of the year, according to the minister.
The projects have consequently provided the committee with a practical example of how institutional capacity can be used to deliver large public investments.
The hospital is also expected to widen access to specialised healthcare while reducing the pressure created by referrals to facilities outside the country. Its planned services include a range of specialised and super-specialised medical services.
UTILITY
UPDF National Referral Hospital: The 375-bed facility in Mbuya is nearing commissioning.
Services: Outpatient care and specialised diagnostic services, including cancer screening, are already operational.
Beneficiaries: The hospital serves UPDF personnel and civilians.
MoDVA headquarters: The twin-tower complex in Mbuya is being constructed at a reported cost of Shs94 billion.
Progress: The headquarters is more than 87 per cent complete, with structural completion expected by December 2026.