Uganda, UAE launch Emirate Speciality Hospital project in Entebbe
Kawooya said that once completed, the Emirate Speciality Hospital is expected to deliver advanced specialised healthcare services, reduce the need for patients to seek treatment abroad, build local medical capacity through training and technology transfer, and create new employment opportunities in the health sector.
Speaking at the ceremony, officials highlighted the project as a symbol of a strong and growing partnership between the two nations.
Uganda’s healthcare sector took a major leap forward with the breaking of the ground ceremony for a 100-bed Emirate Speciality Hospital in Entebbe, a state-of-the-art facility poised to expand access to specialised medical care nationwide.
The May 12, 2026, high-profile event held just hours before President Yoweri Museveni's swearing-in ceremony was led by UAE foreign affairs state minister Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan.
It underscored the deepening bilateral ties between Uganda and the United Arab Emirates in healthcare and investment.
Shakhboot was joined by key Ugandan and Emirati dignitaries, including General Duties Health State Minister Hanifa Kawooya Bangirana, health ministry permanent secretary Dr Diana Atwine, UAE ambassador to Uganda Abdalla Hassan AlShamsi, Uganda's ambassador to UAE Zaake Wanume Kibedi, Erina Zalwango, the counsellor at the Uganda Consulate General in Dubai, Director General of Health Services Prof. Charles Olaro and Project Coordinator Eng. Peter Wafula..
Speaking at the ceremony, officials highlighted the project as a symbol of a strong and growing partnership between the two nations.
Kawooya said that once completed, the Emirate Speciality Hospital is expected to deliver advanced specialised healthcare services, reduce the need for patients to seek treatment abroad, build local medical capacity through training and technology transfer, and create new employment opportunities in the health sector.
Emirate Speciality Hospital
The initiative aligns with Uganda’s broader goals of improving healthcare infrastructure and quality, particularly in specialised fields that have historically been limited within the country.
Stakeholders anticipate the hospital will serve as a regional hub, benefiting not only Ugandans but also patients from neighbouring nations.
Sheikh Shakhboot said this landmark collaboration reflects the UAE’s continued commitment to supporting development projects across Africa and Uganda’s proactive approach to attracting strategic investments in critical social services.
Ambassador Zaake noted that the groundbreaking of the Emirate Speciality Hospital marks another promising chapter in Uganda-UAE relations and promises to deliver lasting improvements in the health and well-being of Ugandans for generations to come.
According to Bu Abdullah Group chairperson Dr Bu Abdullah, the state-of-the-art facility will focus on eyes, ears, nose, and throat (ENT) care, with construction slated for completion within one year.
Once operational, it will expand access to specialised treatment and strengthen Uganda’s healthcare infrastructure.