Members of Parliament on the Parliamentary Committee on Health have raised concerns over the level of preparedness of Lira and Hoima Regional Referral Hospitals ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The committee raised the matter on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, during a meeting with both Hoima regional acting hospital director Ibrahim Bwaga and director of Lira regional referral hospital Dr Andrew Odur on the Health Committee.
During the meeting, the committee noted that Hoima RRH has only one ambulance, yet the nearby stadium is expected to host over 20,000 fans. Presenting his report, the acting hospital director Dr. Ibrahim Bwaga, indicated that the facility had been allocated shs26.5 billion for AFCON preparation, but to meet the required standard, a total of shs40 billion is needed.
Dr. Ibrahim added that the facility currently experiences regular power blackouts, and construction of the hospital complex has stalled, leading to congestion.
He said an additional shs14 billion is needed to adequately prepare the hospital for AFCON, noting that the hospital’s X-ray equipment is not operational, yet sports injuries necessitate fully functional medical equipment.
According to Dr. Andrew Odur, director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, the currently available infrastructure needs a facelift and expansion to sufficiently meet medical needs during the tournament.
The committee was shocked to learn that, although Akii Bua Stadium will equally host AFCON matches, no funds have yet been allocated to Lira Regional Referral Hospital, based on the hospital director’s testimony.
Dr. Odur added that the discussion focused on assessing the health sector’s readiness to handle medical emergencies during AFCON matches expected to be hosted in both Lira City and Hoima City.
Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti, Kole North MP also vice chairperson of the health committee further observed that Lira RRH has only three ambulances to serve 20,000 fans at Akii Bua Stadium, with limited infrastructure to accommodate large numbers in the event of emergencies.
The vice chairperson raised concerns over significant funding gaps and systemic challenges facing regional referral hospitals, warning that the situation could jeopardize Uganda’s preparedness for the upcoming tournament.
In an interview following a committee engagement with hospital directors at Parliament, Dr. Acuti explained that the interface brought together leaders from several regional facilities, including Lira and Hoima RRHs. He noted that administrators from both hospitals are seeking inclusion in the 2026/27 National Budget.
Margaret Rwebyambu Ayebare, the Woman MP for Mbarara district, expressed concern that Hoima RRH had only one consultant serving the entire sub-region.
During the meeting, hospital directors Dr. Ibrahim Bwaga revealed that Hoima RRH requires at least 40 billion shillings to address critical service delivery gaps.
Dr. Acuti explained that the challenges include staffing shortages, limited ambulance services, unreliable power supply, and inadequate specialized care capacity.
Wider health system under pressure
Dr. Acuti emphasized that preparedness must extend beyond referral hospitals to include Health Centre IVs and general hospitals, which will support referrals during the tournament.
He pointed out that the Lango sub-region remains particularly constrained, with only Apac General Hospital serving the area. To adequately prepare both the Lango and Bunyoro sub-regions, he said a combined investment of approximately 100 billion shillings is needed.
Therefore, Health Committee members have called for urgent government intervention to address funding gaps and strengthen oversight to ensure accountability within public health facilities.
Dr. Acuti warned that failure to act could undermine healthcare delivery and compromise Uganda’s readiness to host AFCON matches.
Uganda will co-host AFCON and will have matches at three venues: Mandela National Stadium (40,000+ capacity, under upgrade), and the newly built Hoima City Stadium and Akii Bua Stadium (about 20,000 seats each).
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