Uganda and Türkiye are strengthening cooperation in the health sector following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Medistate Hospital in Istanbul and Bujjuko Hospital in Kampala, in a move expected to promote the exchange of medical expertise, healthcare knowledge and technology between the two countries.

The agreement was signed during a visit to Medistate Hospital by Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, who was accompanied by Uganda’s Ambassador to Türkiye, H.E. Nusura Tiperu.

During the visit, the Ugandan delegation held discussions with Prof. Dr. Eyüp Gümüş, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Medistate Health Group, on opportunities to expand cooperation between Ugandan and Turkish healthcare institutions.

The partnership between Medistate Hospital and Bujjuko Hospital focuses on strengthening cooperation in healthcare services, medical expertise, capacity building and knowledge transfer. It forms part of broader efforts to develop practical areas of collaboration between Uganda and Türkiye, particularly in sectors where Turkish expertise and investment could complement Uganda's growing demand for specialised healthcare services.

The discussions in Istanbul also explored opportunities in medical tourism, health technologies, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and investment in Uganda’s health sector.

Medistate is a major healthcare provider in Türkiye with services covering a wide range of specialised medical fields, including cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery, oncology, orthopaedics, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology and urology. The hospital also provides services to international patients, making it a potential partner in efforts to strengthen Uganda's links with Türkiye's medical sector.

The development comes at a time when Uganda and Türkiye are seeking to expand their relationship beyond diplomacy and traditional trade into investment, technology and private-sector partnerships.

Bilateral trade between the two countries more than doubled from US$75.1 million in 2024 to US$160.5 million in 2025, according to TRT Afrika. Turkish exports to Uganda accounted for about US$120 million of the 2025 trade, while Ugandan exports to Türkiye were valued at approximately US$40.5 million.

The expanding commercial relationship has opened space for cooperation in areas such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and technology. Turkish companies have increasingly shown interest in Uganda's market, while Ugandan businesses continue to seek opportunities to access Turkish expertise, investment and markets.

The health sector presents a particularly important area for such cooperation as Uganda works to expand access to specialised medical services, strengthen the skills of healthcare professionals and improve the availability of modern medical technologies and equipment.

For Bujjuko Hospital, the partnership creates an opportunity to establish stronger institutional links with a Turkish healthcare group with experience in specialised medicine and international healthcare services. Such cooperation can support professional knowledge exchange, training and exposure to different approaches to the delivery of specialised healthcare.

Medical tourism is another area with significant potential. Türkiye has established itself as a destination for international patients seeking specialised medical services, while Ugandans continue to travel abroad for procedures and treatments that may not be readily accessible locally.

Closer cooperation between healthcare institutions could therefore help create stronger referral networks while also opening opportunities for Turkish medical expertise, technology and investment to contribute to Uganda's healthcare industry.

The focus on pharmaceuticals and medical equipment is equally significant. Uganda's health sector requires continued investment in medicines, diagnostic technologies, specialised equipment and other healthcare infrastructure. Partnerships with international companies and institutions can help connect local providers to new technologies and technical expertise while creating opportunities for investment and skills development.

The Istanbul engagement consequently places healthcare among the emerging pillars of Uganda–Türkiye relations, alongside trade and investment.

For Uganda, stronger cooperation with Türkiye could provide additional avenues for accessing specialised medical knowledge and technology while supporting the development of local healthcare capacity. For Turkish healthcare institutions and investors, Uganda offers an expanding market and opportunities to participate in the development of the country's private health sector.

The Medistate–Bujjuko Hospital agreement therefore marks a significant step in building direct institutional links between the healthcare sectors of Uganda and Türkiye, while reinforcing the broader push by the two countries to translate their diplomatic relationship into practical economic and social partnerships.