Mulago National Referral Hospital has announced a major expansion of specialized medical services, a move expected to strengthen Uganda’s healthcare system and reduce the number of patients seeking treatment abroad.

The national referral hospital says it is now offering a wider range of advanced surgical procedures, including organ transplants, neurosurgery, open-heart and cardiothoracic surgery, as well as total hip and knee replacements.

Hospital management also revealed that minimally invasive “pinhole” surgery services are now fully available at the facility, allowing patients to undergo complex procedures with smaller incisions and potentially shorter recovery times.

The expansion comes as Mulago continues positioning itself as a leading center for specialized healthcare in East Africa.

In advanced medicine and pediatrics, the hospital has expanded services in neurology, pulmonology and neonatal intensive care. Officials say the hospital is now carrying out brain mapping and Deep Brain Stimulation procedures for neurological conditions, while pulmonology services include Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA), an advanced diagnostic procedure used in lung disease management.

Mulago also says it has strengthened specialized care for premature babies through enhanced neonatal intensive care services.

“Our doors are open for advanced neurology (brain mapping & Deep Brain Stimulation), pulmonology (EBUS-TBNA), and specialized neonatology to give premature babies the highest level of intensive care”, Mulago Hospital said. 

The hospital further highlighted major investments in next-generation diagnostic technologies aimed at improving disease detection and treatment accuracy. These include molecular diagnostic pathology, interventional radiology, and advanced bio-chemical analysis like genotyping and cytogenetics. 

The expansion follows ongoing efforts by Uganda’s health sector to improve access to highly specialized treatment within the country.

According to information presented to Parliament by hospital management, Mulago has already conducted several successful kidney transplant procedures and plans to further expand transplant services in the coming years.

Hospital officials have previously indicated that Uganda continues to face a growing demand for organ transplant services, with many patients still referred abroad for specialized treatment.

The expansion of specialized healthcare services will support medical training, research and technology transfer for Ugandan health professionals.

By combining world-class medical specialists with advanced treatment protocols, Mulago Hospital says it is proud to lead the region into a new era of specialized healthcare.