Da Dona
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- Dec 16, 2025
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Members of Parliament have urged government to replicate the construction and cost-control approaches used by the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) in other public projects.
The MPs on the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs made the call on Wednesday after inspecting the UPDF National Referral Hospital and the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala.
Committee chairperson Robinah Rwakoojo said the inspection allowed legislators to assess both the physical progress of the projects and their readiness to deliver services to the intended beneficiaries.
The 375-bed UPDF National Referral Hospital is nearing commissioning, with outpatient and specialised diagnostic services, including cancer screening, already operational for military personnel and civilians.
Kampala District Woman MP Shamim Malende said the projects demonstrated how government agencies could achieve value for money by investing in their own capacity and specialised equipment rather than repeatedly hiring costly machinery.
Malende also said the hospital could help reduce the financial burden of referring patients abroad for specialised treatment once it is fully equipped and operational.
Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka said the projects demonstrate the UPDF’s growing capacity to plan, construct and manage major infrastructure internally. He said the hospital was constructed by the UPDF Engineering Brigade using savings from the force’s operations, while its medical services are managed by the UPDF Joint Staff Health Services.
The second project inspected was the twin-tower MODVA headquarters. The Shs94 billion project is more than 87 per cent complete, with structural completion expected by December 2026. Ministry leadership is expected to move into the main building before the end of the year.
Rwakoojo said the committee would continue monitoring government projects to ensure public investments translate into functional services and deliver value to citizens.
Daily Monitor UG