What Kiruddu Hospital is prioritizing in new strategic plan

KAMPALA - Kiruddu General Hospital in Kampala is prioritising infrastructure expansion, increased staffing, and improved patient welfare in its new five-year strategic plan (2025–2030).

The hospital’s executive director, Dr Charles Kabugo, presented the sh204 billion plan to health sector stakeholders at the health facility on Tuesday (June 10).

These included officials from the health ministry, Makindye Division leaders, hospital staff, the media, and village health teams.

Kabugo underlined the urgent need for space expansion.

“In the next five years, we plan to engage our neighbours and explore possibilities of acquiring surrounding land for expansion," he said.

"We want to build more infrastructure to support dialysis, endoscopy, and surgical units."

The ED said that while Kiruddu currently receives significant government support in terms of salaries, equipment, and facility maintenance, the new strategic plan will also require more substantial government funding.

The hospital says it has successfully implemented the Ministry of Health’s integration plan, which merges healthcare services and promotes digitalisation.

“We no longer ask patients to carry books or papers on admission. All patient records are now digitised in our database, which can be accessed by any hospital authorised by the ministry,” said Kabugo.

Dr Erias Mukisa, the hospital's principal administrator, said that the facility envisions recruiting more staff, purchasing a staff van, and acquiring a new ambulance to supplement their current one, which is now worn out.

Dr Erias Mukisa (Hajji), the Principal Hospital Administrator, stated that the hospital envisions recruiting more staff, purchasing a staff van, and acquiring a new ambulance to supplement their current one. (Credit: John Musenze)

It is understood Kiruddu currently has only three senior consultants out of the 25 required and a total of 303 staff members — just 36.5 percent of the 830 needed to operate at full capacity.

The hospital offers a range of specialised services and handles a high patient load, with over 400 outpatients and more than 50 admissions recorded daily. 

Mukisa said the hospital has served more than 60,000 patients in the current financial year.

'Services are excellent'

Bruhan Byaruhanga, the assistant resident city commissioner (RCC) for Makindye, commended the hospital’s transformation from a health centre into a referral and now a general hospital.

He urged the hospital’s management to improve its public relations, noting that many people remain unaware of the range of specialised services available at Kiruddu.

“I bring my family here for treatment, and the services are excellent," he said.

"Unfortunately, many people still view Kiruddu as a death trap. We must develop a system to showcase the great work being done here."

As part of its strategic focus, the hospital plans to invest in research over the next five years. The aim is to become not only a centre for healing but also a hub for solutions to Uganda’s most pressing health challenges.