Health Minister Chris BaryomunsiBy Prisca WanyenyaThe Minister of Health, Chris Baryomunsi, has admitted that out of 146 districts in Uganda, only 66 have hospitals while 80 have no single hospital. There are currently 72 hospitals in the country, bringing hospital coverage to just 45%.The details are contained in the report on Status of Health Service Delivery in Uganda, presented before Parliament during the October 15, 2026 plenary sitting.The report further indicates that Uganda has 5 specialized hospitals, while National Referral Hospitals are also 5 with a gap of 3 more such facilities. The number of Regional Referral Hospitals is 16, yet required number is 19, leaving a gap of 3.Baryomunsi further indicated that Uganda has 54 General Hospitals and required number is 92, leaving a gap of 38; while number of Health Centre IVs is 240, yet required are 460, leaving a gap of 220; and number of Health Centre IIIs available is 1,709, required are 2,189, leaving a gap of 480.Parliament was informed that between 2026-2030, there are plans to boost Uganda’s health infrastructure including construction of a National Trauma Hospital at Naguru, three new National Referral Hospitals, three new Regional Referral Hospitals, and five City Hospitals across Kampala’s divisions.Government has also promised to build 38 new General Hospitals, expand bed capacity of referral hospitals to 1,000 beds nationally and 500 beds regionally, and upgrade 125 HCIIIs to HCIVs, construct 488 new HCIIIs, and strengthen systems for maintaining health infrastructure and equipment.Dr. Baryomunsi noted: “These investments will expand equitable access to care, reduce congestion at referral hospitals, strengthen emergency and specialized services, and build a more resilient health system – implemented in phases aligned with Government’s planning and budget cycles.”The Minister defended the plan arguing that Uganda’s health infrastructure is intended to bridge needs gap given increasing population of 45.9 million and growing, which is compounded by rising disease burden, urbanization, and climate-related emergencies.On what Government achieved between 2021-2025, the Minister argued that Government has delivered significant results, including rehabilitation of 18 General Hospitals, upgrading of 407 HCIIs to HCIIIs, construction of 38 new HCIIIs, installation of 14 ICUs, 14 CT scanners, 20 new X-ray units, and MRI machine at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, among other investments in blood banks, laboratories, incinerators, and specialized care units.According to Ministry of Health, coverage of HC IVs that are fully functional (offering blood transfusion and caesarean section) reached 66%, exceeding 64% target and continued investment is required to sustain blood transfusion and caesarean-section capacity.Further, proportion of NRHs & RRHs with functional neonatal intensive care units increased to 26.3%, exceeding FY2025/26 target of 20% (Kawempe NRH, Mulago SWNH, Lira RRH, Masaka RRH, Fortportal RRH) although priority should be given to specialised staffing, equipment, and availability of essential commodities at all Regional Referral Hospitals.On where Ugandans sought medical care, Baryomunsi revealed that Government health facilities accounted for 77% of all outpatient (OPD) attendances, followed by private-not-for-profit (13%) and private-for-profit facilities (10%).“Over 66% of patients sought care at lower-level facilities (HC III and HC IV), reflecting increasing confidence in Uganda’s referral system following recent upgrades of Health Centre IIIs. Malaria, cough/cold (without pneumonia) and urinary tract infections remained three leading OPD conditions. Number of confirmed malaria cases (including cases from community) reduced by 8% to 11,073,963 in FY 2025/26 from 11,997,339 reported in previous year,” said Baryomunsi.Additionally, average bed occupancy rate at National Referral Hospitals rose from 91% to 103%, with Butabika, Naguru and Kawempe hospitals exceeding 100% occupancy – a clear signal of infrastructure strain requiring capital investment. Notably, utilisation of National Referral Hospital (Mulago) fell by 10%, suggesting improved utilisation of lower-level facilities within Kampala metropolitan area, consistent with Government’s strategy of strengthening referral pathway and primary health care.Among specialized institutions, Uganda Cancer Institute registered 8,372 new patients in the year, Uganda Heart Institute performed 201 paediatric and 123 adult cardiac surgeries, and Kiruddu National Referral Hospital conducted 19,729 dialysis sessions. Government commended Mbale Regional Referral Hospital (67% performance score) and Mengo Hospital (55%) for leading performance among Regional Referral and PNFP hospitals respectively.The report also provided breakdown of disease burden highlighting that malaria incidence slightly increased to 226.5 per 1,000 persons from 223 previous year, although Ministry still achieved against annual target of 260 per 1,000 persons.New HIV infections declined to 0.71 per 1,000 susceptible population compared to 0.79. Maternal mortality ratio improved to 189 per 100,000 live births although no data is available to measure performance against annual target of 182.Ministry also indicated that mortality due to Water Sanitation Hygiene (WASH)-related causes dropped to 28 per 100,000 against target of 28.1, and mortality from communicable diseases (Malaria, TB & HIV/AIDS) increased to 42.7% against target of 38%.Childhood obesity stood at 3% against target of 3.4%; stunting among children under five stood at 25% against target of 26%, wasting at 2.9% against target of 3%, and teenage pregnancy at 24% against target of 24%. Yet still, modern contraceptive prevalence rate is at 33.3% against target of 30%, unmet need for family planning fell to 27.2% against target of 24%.The Minister also raised concerns on congestion in public facilities witnessed by overly subscribed bed occupancy rate that stood at 104% against target of 65%.“This means that we still need more beds compared to over congestion in our hospital admission wards. We see that population with access to safely managed sanitation has increased surpassing annual target of 23%, however access to basic sanitation (improved toilet coverage) has stayed at 31.1% below target of 36%,” remarked Baryomunsi.Among health indicators that Uganda’s health sector is performing well is administering of HPV vaccine to protect women against cervical cancer where coverage for girls at 10 years performed at 109% surpassing 78% annual target due to catch-up vaccination activities implemented during Integrated Child Health Days (ICHDs) in October 2025 and April 2026 that led to more girls aged above targeted 10-year-old girls receiving vaccine.Ministry however raised alarm on road carnage revealing that road traffic mortality rate per 100,000 population is still big challenge at 35.4 against 27.7 in FY2025/26 target.Dr. Baryomunsi explained: “These increasing deaths from road traffic injuries are largely driven by factors such as poor road infrastructure, weak enforcement of road safety policies, and unsafe road user behaviors. Coverage of ambulances by constituency still stands at 56.7% with only 200 out of 353 constituencies equipped with ambulance. Sub regions of North central Buganda, South-central Buganda, Bunyoro, Bukedi, Bugisu and Ankole having least coverage of constituencies with ambulance.”On what future holds, Minister revealed that sector will prioritise prevention, control and elimination of communicable, non-communicable and neglected tropical diseases and injuries, with emphasis on Primary Health Care approach and control of cancer, cardiovascular disease and trauma; and provision of high-quality sexual and reproductive health and rights services for adolescents, mothers, newborns and infants.The post 80 Out of 146 Districts in Uganda Have No Hospital – Health Minister appeared first on Business Focus.