Govt moves to strengthen EMS with regional ambulance co-ordination centres

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The Government says it is taking major steps to strengthen its emergency medical response system, with the health ministry set to operationalise nine regional ambulance co-ordination centres.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) commissioner Dr John Baptist Waniaye says the centres are part of a national plan to improve emergency readiness and reduce preventable deaths.

Speaking on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Waniaye said the operationalisation of the regional ambulance co-ordination centres will start this year.

Waniaye revealed that the construction and equipping of several centres is already underway. 

“We are near completion in Mbarara, Mbale, Arua and Lira. We are also equipping facilities in Jinja, Yumbe and Mulago Hospital Isolation Units. In total, nine call and dispatch centres will be functional next year,” he said.

The initiative comes at a time when Uganda is facing a high burden of emergency conditions. Road traffic trauma remains one of the biggest contributors to mortality. Over the past decade, the number of road crash injuries has tripled, rising from an annual average of 50,000 cases in 2015 and 2016 to about 164,000 in 2025. Fatalities have also surged from about 3,000 deaths yearly to an estimated 10,000 today.

Recently, during a three-day health forum organised by the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) Global Alumni, Uganda chapter, Waniaye said beyond accidents, other emergency conditions such as severe malaria, non-communicable diseases, mental health crises, and public health threats, including Ebola, continue to strain the system. Research shows that countries with strong emergency care systems can reduce deaths from preventable emergencies by up to 54%, underscoring the importance of these investments.

Waniaye said the health ministry will soon begin registering all ambulances, public and private, to ensure proper regulation. 

“Within six months, we expect to have all ambulances registered. We call upon all private service providers to respond when registration opens. Any ambulance not registered will not be allowed to operate,” Waniaye said.

Beatrice Orena, former vice-president of the KGA Uganda chapter and a member of the National TB Reference Laboratory, said the forum was convened in response to the ongoing health sector financing challenges.

“Many programmes like human resources, medicines, emergency care, NCDs, and others have been affected by funding cuts. We felt it was necessary to bring high-level stakeholders together to brainstorm and find solutions,” she said.

The forum brought together officials from the health ministry, the World Health Organisation, implementing partners, and experts across the health sector, offering a platform for collaboration and innovative thinking.