Mulago National Referral Hospital celebrates ISO certification

KAMPALA - Mulago National Referral Hospital has celebrated recognition by International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) for ensuring quality and safety of both the clients and the medical practitioners.

The hospital received integrated management systems of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), in particular the ISO 9001, which is for quality management systems.

The ISO 14001, which focuses on environmental management, and how they control the environment in which they are working, and the impact they are having on it and ISO 45001, which looks at occupational health and safety.

The Mulago National Referral Hospital Executive Director, Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, said the ISO certification shows that the facility offers personalised care to each patient.

“As a hospital, we care about the environment because we produce waste, which can be toxic and infectious to the environment. We do not want any disease transmitted to our own staff and patients acquiring other diseases while in our environment,” she said.

Dr. Byanyima further noted that the hospital uses radiation-producing devices in some departments. As such, the approved standards will ensure that these areas are safe both for the patients and the health workers.

Although sometimes Mulago Hospital gets overwhelmed with many patients, she said they have set a standard which must be adhered to while ensuring that the care is standardised and reproducible.

According to Dr. Byanyima, the ISO certification comes after a 10-year journey of preparation.

“We brought everybody on board, including a consultant board, formed a quality assurance committee and champions in different departments,” she said. In addition, the staff had to develop their standard operating procedures (SOPs) that were later approved by management in order to standardise care.

The hospital celebrated its ISO certification on March 6, 2026. The event was officiated by Minister of State for Health General Duties, Anifa Bangirana Kawooya.

Kawooya noted that the ISO certification of Mulago Hospital is a big achievement that builds confidence in the Health sector.

Kawooya further noted that the milestone speaks volumes and gives hope, trust to the patients.

“Our hospital being rated with other international hospitals abroad means that when a patient walks in, they will receive services that are acceptable at International standards,” Kawooya noted.

Patricia Bageine Ejalu, the deputy executive director standards at UNBS, said in regard to national medical services, Mulago National Referral Hospital is the first entity to get management systems certification.

Bageine explained that the facility went through an intentional process of assessment.

“The hospital was inspected and subjected to a number of assessments to ensure the services it gives to the public is the best and can be recognised internationally,” she noted.

About the three ISOs

ISO 9001 is the international standard for a Quality Management System (QMS) that helps organisations consistently meet customer and regulatory requirements. It provides a framework to improve efficiency, processes, and customer satisfaction, and it is the most widely used standard in the ISO 9000 family.

ISO 14001 is an international standard that provides a framework for organisations to create an effective environmental management system (EMS). It helps businesses systematically manage their environmental impact, comply with environmental laws, and continuously improve their environmental performance and sustainability.

ISO 45001 is an international standard for occupational health and safety management systems, providing a framework for organisations to create a safe and healthy workplace by preventing work-related injuries and illnesses.

It helps businesses manage risks, improve performance, and ensure legal compliance through a proactive and systematic approach to safety.