UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The government has finalised a $20 million deal with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) for the construction of the Uganda Heart Institute.
The Financing Agreement was signed by Mr Matia Kasaija, the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, and Dr Sidi Ould Tah, the Director General of BADEA during the African Development Bank Annual Meetings in Egypt on May 23.
The project, with a total cost of $73 million, received approval from Parliament in February to borrow USh259 billion ($70 million).
The construction of the Uganda Heart Institute will be co-financed by three development partners: the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), and BADEA. SFD will contribute $30 million, OFID $20 million, and BADEA $20 million.
The facility will be situated on a 10-acre land in Naguru, Kampala.
Mr Kasaija stated that each financier will co-finance the project, and the government will provide $3 million for project management activities, consultancy services, studies and designs, and construction supervision.
The Uganda Heart Institute, as explained by Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health, will house a cardiac centre with a capacity of 250 beds.
Hypertension affects 25% of the population in Uganda, while 8% suffer from diabetes. The project aligns with the health sector projects in the National Development Plan III and Vision 2040.
The project brief outlines that the overall project will include a clinical block spanning approximately 24,130 sqm, comprising two basements, one ground floor, and nine typical floors.
Additionally, there will be a research and laboratories block consisting of a basement, a ground floor, and nine typical floors.
Dr John Omagino, the Executive Director of the Uganda Heart Institute, stated that construction is scheduled to begin in the middle of this year once the government secures the necessary funding.
The agreement between the government and the Arab Bank to develop the Uganda Heart Institute marks a significant step towards enhancing the healthcare infrastructure in Uganda and addressing the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the country.
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