Published By BHF | March 16, 2026
By: Tatumwa Desmond Benjamin
Jinja, Uganda – Members of the Busoga Health Forum together with Busoga public officers have handed over essential neurosurgical equipment to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, marking an important step toward expanding specialized medical care in Eastern Uganda.
The equipment, valued at approximately UGX 20 million, was mobilized through contributions from members of the Busoga Health Forum and public servants from the region. The initiative is part of a broader campaign to raise UGX 200 million to fully equip the hospital’s neurosurgery services.
Strengthening a Regional Referral Hospital
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Dr. Alfred Yayi, Senior Executive Consultant at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, said the hospital envisions becoming a center of excellence providing both general and specialized services, while also functioning as a training and research hub supporting lower-level health facilities across Eastern Uganda.
Currently, many specialized medical services remain concentrated in Kampala, forcing patients to travel long distances for treatment.
Neurosurgical Burden in Eastern Uganda
According to Dr. Ronald Mabubi, a neurosurgeon and volunteer neurosurgeon at the hospital, Jinja Regional Referral Hospital serves a catchment population of about 4.5 million people across Eastern Uganda.
He explained that neurosurgical emergencies often face dangerous delays due to limited specialists, inadequate equipment, and referral challenges.
“Most neurosurgical conditions require immediate intervention to prevent permanent disability or death,” Dr. Mabubi said.
Road traffic crashes are among the leading causes of traumatic brain and spinal injuries in Uganda. The World Health Organization estimates that road traffic injuries cause about 1.19 million deaths globally every year, with many survivors suffering severe head injuries that require neurosurgical care.
Many of these patients are breadwinners injured on the roads, and delayed treatment often results in death or lifelong disability.
Equipment That Enables Life-Saving Surgery
The newly acquired equipment includes a craniotomy set used in brain surgery and a cervical instrumentation set for spinal surgery, enabling surgeons to treat conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, brain tumors, intracranial bleeding, and spinal trauma locally.
Previously, patients requiring these procedures had to be referred to national referral hospitals such as Mulago National Referral Hospital, leading to treatment delays and increased mortality.
With these tools now available, the hospital can begin performing critical neurosurgical procedures within the region.
Community Mobilization for Better Health
Prof. Peter Waiswa, Board Chair of Busoga Health Forum, thanked members for their contributions and emphasized the importance of collective action in improving healthcare.
“When we learned that Jinja Hospital urgently needed neurosurgical equipment, we mobilized ourselves and raised UGX 20 million to purchase the first priority equipment needed to start services,” he said.
He called on leaders, professionals, and citizens across Busoga to unite in improving health outcomes in the region.
A Government Call to Action
The chief guest, Dr. Agrey Kibenge, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, praised the initiative and urged more citizens to support efforts to strengthen regional health facilities.
He shared a recent experience where a patient died after delays in accessing CT and MRI services in nearby districts.
“How many people lose their lives simply because services are too far away?” he asked. “Millions of Ugandans face these challenges.”
Dr. Kibenge emphasized that those who are privileged have a responsibility to contribute to strengthening public services.
The Next Step: Raising UGX 200 Million
While the UGX 20 million raised so far has enabled the purchase of initial equipment, stakeholders say more support is needed to fully establish neurosurgery services in Busoga.
Health leaders explained that anyone can become a victim of neurosurgical emergencies, including:
- Road traffic crashes, which frequently cause head and spinal injuries
- Falls, especially among children and the elderly
- Brain tumors or infections requiring surgical treatment
- Stroke and bleeding in the brain
- Spinal injuries from workplace or domestic accidents
These conditions can affect any person, regardless of age, profession, or social status.
“Today it may be someone else, tomorrow it may be a member of our own family,” Mr. Moses Kyangwa, Executive Director Busoga Health Forum noted.
Stakeholders therefore called on individuals, businesses, professionals, diaspora communities, and public servants from Busoga to contribute toward the remaining UGX 180 million needed to fully equip the neurosurgery unit.
Health leaders believe that with collective effort, Jinja Regional Referral Hospital can become a fully functional neurosurgery center serving millions of people across Eastern Uganda, reducing preventable deaths and strengthening the region’s healthcare system.
