LIRA, UGANDA – In a major boost for healthcare in northern Uganda, Lira Regional Referral Hospital has secured an additional UGX 4.8 billion to recruit more than 150 new staff in the 2026/2027 financial year.
The landmark announcement was made on Wednesday, 8th April 2026, by the Hospital Director, Dr. Andrew Odur, during the maiden State of the Hospital Address at the 156th sitting of the Hospital Parliament. The event took place at the administration block boardroom.
Dr. Odur explained that the funds will support the recruitment of a wide range of health professionals, including consultants, associate consultants, nurses, midwives, and allied health workers. Currently, the hospital operates with approximately 320 personnel. Once the new recruits are onboarded, staffing levels will surge to nearly 500.
“In the next financial year, we are going to recruit more than 150 staff following the allocation of an additional UGX 4.8 billion for recruitment,” Dr. Odur stated emphatically.
Beyond staffing, the Hospital Director outlined several priority projects for the coming year. These include:
· Construction of a new ward complex.
· Reclamation of 10.4 acres of encroached hospital land.
· Completion of the hospital fencing.
· Construction of staff housing.
On the clinical front, Dr. Odur revealed that the hospital is strengthening its capacity to offer advanced care in several specialized areas, including fertility treatment, neonatology, cardiology, neurotrauma, and endoscopy.
Several projects are already in the pipeline and expected to be completed before the end of the current financial year. These include:
· Extension of the private wing.
· Remodeling and paving of part of Police Road.
· Equipping of the theatre.
· Construction of canopies along major walkways within the hospital.
Reflecting on the past 12 months, Dr. Odur highlighted notable achievements, including:
· Construction of a fully-fledged satellite laboratory, now internally accredited by SANAS.
· Expansion of a 45-bed gynecology ward.
· Operationalization of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
· Successful performance of 174 surgeries.
Despite these gains, Dr. Odur raised concern over the high disease burden recorded at the hospital. Cases include:
· 7,592 malaria cases
· 1,742 urinary tract infections
· 1,038 sickle cell disease cases
In his closing remarks, the Speaker of the Hospital Parliament, Dr. Bosco Omongo, urged hospital leadership to engage the Ministries of Health and Finance for additional funding to support the hospital’s upgrade. He noted that this is especially critical as Lira City prepares to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027.
Dr. Omongo also emphasized the urgent need for the construction of a city mortuary, revealing that the current facility at the hospital is severely overwhelmed, with a capacity to handle only 12 bodies at a time.
“We cannot continue like this. A modern city mortuary is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity,” Dr. Omongo said.
For residents of Lira and the wider Lango sub-region, the UGX 4.8 billion recruitment boost signals a new era of improved healthcare delivery—provided the promises translate into action on the ground.
