In a strategic move to elevate military healthcare, the UPDF has officially named the top leadership for its newly completed National Referral Hospital in Mbuya, ahead of its formal opening in October.
Col Ronald Nangamba has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with Col Dr John Lusiba taking on the role of Deputy CEO, marking a crucial phase in operationalizing the state-of-the-art facility that the army views as both a medical and strategic asset.
Presiding over the inaugural leadership meeting, Maj Gen Ambrose Musinguzi, the Joint Staff Health Services, laid out a bold vision for the hospital, urging the incoming leaders to work towards international accreditation, expand partnerships, and deliver affordable yet high-quality care.
“We must work towards international accreditation if we are to attract global patients and organisations like the United Nations. It is not easy, but it is attainable,” he said, noting that the hospital represents the apex of UPDF’s referral system and is a symbol of the force’s growing investment in soldier welfare and health infrastructure.
Hailing the facility as a flagship project, Musinguzi commended the UPDF leadership for its consistent and hands-on support throughout the hospital’s development, adding, “You have treated this as a welfare project and given it full support. Whenever issues come up, they are addressed swiftly and decisively.”
He challenged the new team to streamline procurement and operational systems, stressing that efficiency and reliability will define the hospital’s national and regional relevance.
Col Dr Nangamba, who has overseen the hospital’s growth from blueprint to near-completion, acknowledged the weight of the assignment.
“I am aware of the hope placed in this hospital, both within and beyond the UPDF,” he said. “There is nothing that will stop you from making it the best hospital in Uganda and the region.”
The CEO also pledged to uphold the UPDF’s vision for modern military healthcare, combining discipline, innovation, and service.
His deputy, Col Dr Lusiba, echoed the commitment, saying their leadership will be rooted in teamwork and service to both soldiers and civilians.
The hospital expected to serve UPDF personnel, their families, and potentially civilians is part of Uganda’s broader push to professionalize military welfare while contributing to national health goals. With international standards now on the radar, the Mbuya facility could soon be a benchmark for military-run health institutions across Africa.
The leadership inauguration was attended by a cross-section of senior and junior UPDF officers, signaling the weight the army attaches to this institution’s success.
