The government has resolved to compensate Phaneroo Ministries International for land required to construct a critical access road to the Uganda Heart Institute’s (UHI) new specialised cardiac hospital in Naguru.UHI executive director Dr John Omagino said the dispute between the church and the institute, which had threatened the progress of the project, was referred to President Yoweri Museveni after attempts by the two parties to reach an amicable settlement failed.He said the institute is working to have the new hospital operational by June 2027. Omagino explained that a world-class tertiary cardiac hospital cannot effectively operate with limited access routes.According to him, the institute’s master plan provides for multiple access roads to facilitate the smooth movement of patients, emergency vehicles and hospital traffic, making compensation for the affected property owners the most practical solution.Dr Omagino on involving the PresidentAlthough the compensation package is yet to be finalised, Omagino said the proposed ambulance access road has already been incorporated into the project’s master plan.The disputed section of land will provide a dedicated access route for ambulances, complementing the two existing entry points to the facility. Omagino said planners concluded that relying on only two access roads would significantly hamper the movement of emergency cases, particularly once the hospital begins handling the high patient volumes expected at the specialised centre.Omagino on compensationWith the access road issue nearing resolution, Uganda Heart Institute board chairperson Dr James Magara said the institute’s immediate priority is preparing for a seamless transition from its current premises at Mulago National Referral Hospital to the new Naguru campus without disrupting patient care.Magara said the institute currently operates with about 330 staff but will require approximately 1,425 personnel across various professional cadres once the new facility becomes operational.He noted that government funding will be needed well in advance to recruit, train and prepare the additional workforce required to run the expanded hospital. The new cardiac facility, situated on a 10-acre site in Naguru, is progressing steadily.A mid-term review conducted last week showed that civil works, which commenced 16 months ago, are now about 55 per cent complete.Once completed, the hospital is expected to significantly boost Uganda’s capacity to diagnose and treat complex cardiovascular diseases while reducing the number of patients referred abroad for specialised cardiac care.The post Govt to compensate Phaneroo church over Heart Institute access road appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.