Mulago National Referral Hospital has requested an additional Shs8.598 billion in funding for the 2025/2026 financial year to support its organ transplant program.
Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, the hospital’s Executive Director, presented this appeal to the Parliamentary Committee on Health on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
Dr. Byanyima highlighted the hospital’s progress in organ transplantation, reporting five successful kidney transplants with four more planned for April and May 2025.
“All donors have fully recovered and returned to work. Recipients are also recovering well, with one already resuming work. Our collaboration with the Yashoda team has enabled knowledge transfer to our surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other specialists,” she stated.
However, she noted significant challenges in securing essential medicines and screening equipment, requiring Shs3.623 billion. Staffing costs amount to Shs2.782 billion, while capacity-building efforts need Shs2.193 billion.
In the next fiscal year, Mulago Hospital aims to perform 12 kidney transplants, five liver transplants, and 10 corneal surgeries.
“Adequate funding is crucial to acquire more equipment and supplies, which will lower testing costs and speed up turnaround times,” Dr. Byanyima explained.
Parliamentary Support for Specialized Services
Hon. Benard Sekyanzi expressed strong support for the hospital’s funding request, emphasizing the importance of skilling healthcare professionals to handle the growing demand for transplants.
“The need for liver and corneal transplants is substantial. We must ensure enough specialists are trained to meet this demand,” he urged.
Hon. George Bhoka called for the operationalization of the Organ Donation and Transplant Council and the implementation of regulations to govern the medical practice.
Legislative Framework and Broader Hospital Needs
Mulago Hospital’s transplant operations are guided by the Uganda Human Organ Donation and Transplant Act, 2023, enacted in November 2022 and signed into law in March 2023.
Beyond transplants, the hospital requires Shs189.3 billion in additional funding for 2025/2026 to address other critical needs. These include Shs15.5 billion to complete Lower Mulago renovations, Shs14.041 billion for constructing 150 staff housing units, and Shs82.7 billion for procuring essential supplies for critical care, dialysis, and neurosurgery.
Dr. Byanyima noted that recommended funding for critical items such as staffing, specialized medicines, and equipment maintenance in the 2024/2025 budget was not provided by the finance ministry.
“As a result, the hospital struggles with underutilized ICU beds due to understaffing and inadequate supplies for critical care, theater operations, and dialysis,” she explained.
The hospital’s leadership remains hopeful that Parliament will address these funding gaps to ensure the continuity and expansion of its life-saving services.
