Algeria to fund multi-billion rehabilitation of Katakwi General Hospital

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The Government of Uganda has formally signed a cooperation agreement with the Government of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria in Algiers to enhance and rehabilitate Katakwi General Hospital.

The project is funded by the Algerian Agency for Cooperation in Solidarity and Development, with a budget of $13.7 million (approx. sh50 billion).

Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Rose Alupo Epel appointed a delegation led by Finance Minister Matia Kasaija and Dr Ichumar Simon Omeke, district health officer of Katakwi, to oversee the signing of the agreement on Monday, September 8, 2025.

Finance Minister Matia Kasaija and Algeria officials signing the agreement to upgrade Katakwi Hospital. (Courtesy photo)

The rehabilitation will include the construction of a state-of-the-art intensive care unit, the first of its kind in eastern and northern Uganda, a modern mortuary, and an outpatient department complex with an emergency unit and operating theatre.

Additional developments will feature a radiology department with X-ray and scanning facilities, 12 modern staff houses, a medical waste management facility with an incinerator, and renovations of maternity, children’s, male, female, and general wards. Improvements will also include an attendant’s kitchen, laundry, placenta pit, and landscaping to beautify the hospital grounds.

Minister Kasaija described the project as both a health investment and a socio-economic catalyst that will enhance healthcare delivery, uplift rural communities through job creation, and stimulate local economies by generating demand for goods and services.

He noted that the expansion will improve access to specialised care, reduce delays in treatment, particularly for emergencies, and enhance survival and recovery rates. The project is also expected to reduce financial and social burdens for families, including costs related to accommodation, food, and transportation.

Kasaija emphasised that the initiative will decongest regional referral hospitals, enabling them to focus on complex and specialised procedures. It will also serve as a training and mentorship hub for medical interns, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, enhancing human resource development.

“The hospital boosts local economies by creating jobs, generating demand for goods and services, and facilitating infrastructure development, which contributes to regional growth and equity,” he said.

The minister called on Algeria to support a second phase of the project, including the construction of additional modern wards, the provision of advanced medical equipment, and the training of healthcare workers. He noted that aligning professional skills with the new infrastructure will ensure equitable healthcare access and high standards of care for all Ugandans.

District Health Officer Katakwi, Dr. Simon Ichumar Omeke second left, Finance Minister, Matia Kassaija and Algeria officials taking a group photo after signing the agreement to rehabilitate Katakwi General Hospital. (Courtesy Photo)

Usuk County MP Bosco Okiror welcomed the initiative, noting it will reduce the need for medical tourism, as residents often travel to Matany Hospital in Karamoja and Soroti Regional Referral Hospital.

He praised VP Alupo for acting as a key link with the Algerian government, whose generosity will benefit the people of Katakwi.

Katakwi General Hospital began as a dispensary in 1956 during the colonial era. It was later upgraded to Health Centre IV and, in 2011, transformed into a district hospital. Despite its status, the hospital’s infrastructure had not seen significant improvements prior to this initiative.