Construction of UPDF hospital underway

Uganda Peoples' Defense Forces (UPDF) Engineers Brigade has commenced the construction of a Diagnostic Centre (Out-Patient Department [OPD]) and Dental Unit at Lower Mbuya Barracks.

The UPDF Chief of Defense Forces, Gen David Muhoozi, officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony of the construction of the medical facility which is scheduled to be complete by August this year.

Muhoozi lauded UPDF engineers and staff from the medical wing for partnering to improve the welfare of militants.

He said the project will help enhance skills of UPDF engineers, shelter confidential health issues within the UPDF fraternity and offer a good location for not only civilians around Mbuya but also troops who currently have to travel far away to Bombo for medical attention.

The army chief promised to support such pragmatic interventions by both engineers and medics in the UPDF.

He further said the construction by the UPDF engineers will help the force cut costs as compared to hiring contractors.

Gen. Davld Muhoozi addressing UPDF Officers and families that attended the ground breaking ceremony in Mbuya.

The UPDF Deputy Commander of the Engineers Brigade, Col Eng Besigye Bekunda, explained that UPDF engineers were chosen ahead of other suppliers or contractors; because they maintain quality work, show value for money and complete work within the stipulated time.

On this, he clarified that UPDF will use sh555m for the OPD Unit as opposed to the 5.3 billion contractors demanded. And for the Dental Unit, UPDF is to spend sh784m, as opposed to sh3.9b that contractors would take.

Brig. Dr. Ambrose Musinguzi, UPDF Chief of Medical Services, said completion of the medical facility will widen the scope of medical services in the face of budgetary constraints.

He mentioned that increasing the number of medical infrastructure reduces pressure on the already existing infrastructure; which improves on people's quality of life, adding that the facility will be linked to Makerere University Medical School and offer research work to other users.

The Ministry of Defence is also scheduled to start construction of a referral hospital within the same barracks at Lower Mbuya.

These are among the many interventions the UPDF leadership is undertaking to improve the welfare of its troops.

The President of Uganda and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen Yoweri Museveni has already donated the medical equipment that will used in the dental unit that the engineers started constructing at Mbuya.