Prince Nakibinge urges govt to strengthen health funding

BUTAMBALA - Titular head of the Muslim community in Uganda, Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu, has urged the Government to strengthen health funding by allocating more resources to the health sector in the national budget.

Nakibinge made the call on Saturday, November 15, 2025, while commissioning the Kibuli Muslim Hospital branch at Kabasanda in Butambala district.

“I request the Government to increase funding to the health sector because, whatever we do, unless we have a healthy population, there is no good use. I pray that the Government prioritises the health sector,” Nakibinge said.

Kabasanda becomes the second branch of the Kibuli Muslim Hospital in its ambitious move to take its services closer to the people. The first branch of the hospital was opened in the Kampala city suburb of Kyanja.

Nakibinge, also the patron of Kibuli Muslim Hospital, said the Government should consider reducing 30% of money allocated to other sectors and allocate the same to the health sector for a healthier and more productive population.

The health sector this financial year 2025/2026 received a record shillings 5.87 trillion (about 8.1%) allocation in the national budget, up from 2.9 trillion the previous FY.

However, this is far below the Abuja Declaration target of 15% and insufficient to meet Uganda's Health Sector Development Plan.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently urged Uganda to increase health budget from 2% to 5% of GDP to achieve strong financing for the health sector.

“I am making this request because not every person has the capacity to fly to India or Europe for health services. The best we can do to our population is to provide these services to them,” Nakibinge said.

Nakibinge thanked Baitulmaal, a US-based charitable organisation, Every Pregnancy and the Gates Foundation for their generous support towards the project.

Every Pregnancy and the Gates Foundation equipped the maternity ward for the hospital in a bid to reduce the maternal deaths in the country.

Nakibinge, also the patron of Kibuli Muslim Hospital, said the Government should think of reducing 30% of money allocated to other sectors and allocate the same to the health sector for a healthier and more productive population. (Credit: Farooq Kasule)

As missionary hospitals, Nakibinge said they are supplementing the Government in strengthening the health sector in the country. The hospital was built on land donated by the family of the late Hajji Yusuf Tamale.

Nakibinge commended the Tamale family for generously donating the land towards saving lives with no strings attached.

Dr Mahmoud El-Gazar, the Kibuli Muslim Hospital chief executive officer, said the branch is a fully fledged hospital with 22-bed capacity offering all diagnostic and maternity services.

“We request the community to make this hospital their number one choice for your health needs because we are here to serve you. We have 12 medical personnel that are going to be stationed here, including two doctors with a standby ambulance for referrals,” he said.

Gazar revealed that they intend to soon open another branch in Arua city. 

“We will soon be everywhere because our goal is to take our services closer to the people. In Kampala, we are going to open more branches so that Kibuli becomes a referral,” he said.

By opening more branches, Gazar said they are not only taking services closer to the people but are also creating more employment opportunities for the health practitioners.

Butambala district assistant health officer Faridah Nanyanzi welcomed the hospital, saying it will supplement their efforts to ensure that people have access to quality health services within a walkable distance.

“We have a population of about 140,000 people with 25 health facilities and one hospital (Gombe hospital). We, therefore, welcome Kibuli Muslim Hospital, and we hope to work with you as a district in ensuring a healthy population,” Nanyanzi said.

Abdul-Noor Muwonge, the Butambala district chief executive officer, promised to engage the officials of the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) on constant power outages in the district, which the hospital management said is a big problem for them. 

Founded in 1984 as a small clinic under the guidance of Prince Badru Kakukungulu, the hospital has grown into a fully-fledged hospital that has greatly impacted the health sector in the country.