The Smart Africa Village Development Consortium, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has launched the construction of five state-of-the-art diagnostic centres in the Busoga sub-region, aimed at enhancing healthcare services and addressing the growing challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The diagnostic centres will be established at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Bugiri General Hospital, Iganga General Hospital, Mayuge Health Centre IV, and the Centre of Diagnostic and Imaging Excellence at Kamuli General Hospital. During the inauguration and the swearing-in of the board members for the Smart Africa Village Development Consortium, the organization revealed plans to build advanced biomedical and diagnostic facilities across Kamuli, Iganga, Jinja, Mayuge, and Bugiri districts.
Dr. Nelson Muzira, Country Director of the Smart Africa Village Development Consortium, explained that the project will also include the creation of a Centre of Biomedical Excellence to support equipment calibration at the Ministry of Health’s Infrastructure Unit. “This initiative is in line with our national strategy to control non-communicable diseases. It is timely and will position Busoga as a regional hub for diagnostic excellence,” Dr. Muzira said in an interview with Nile Post.
Busoga, which has long been one of Uganda’s regions most impacted by poverty and NCDs, is expected to benefit significantly from the new diagnostic centres, which will enhance early detection, treatment, and overall health outcomes. Rebecca Kadaga, the Third Deputy Prime Minister, who was the guest of honor, praised the initiative and urged policymakers to ensure national development plans are aligned with the healthcare needs of the population.
“National planning must reflect the health demands of our people,” Kadaga said, emphasizing the need to focus on combating sickle cell disease, which continues to affect many families in Uganda.
Health officials anticipate that the new centres will not only strengthen diagnostic capabilities but also improve the region’s preparedness for future health challenges through better biomedical infrastructure and training.