Aga Khan University will officially open its Nakawa-based campus in mid-June, marking a major milestone in its Uganda expansion. This follows last year’s launch of the Nakawa Specialty Clinic, the institution’s first presence in the country.
Mr. Rashid Khalani, CEO of Aga Khan University Hospital, confirmed the June opening in a May 9 interview with the Monitor. He also revealed that construction for a new teaching hospital will begin in July. The university building and student hostel are now fully complete and ready.
The teaching hospital will start with 101 beds. More beds will be added later based on patient demand. The university will also admit direct-entry nursing students for the first time this year.
Currently, Aga Khan University hosts 300 students at its Old Kampala campus. Most of them are in-service nurses upgrading their skills. The new hostel in Nakawa will accommodate international students.
Mr. Khalani said the expansion into Kampala builds on their success in Kenya. The Nairobi-based hospital opened in 1958 and became a teaching hospital two decades ago. It now includes a nursing school, media school, and research institute.
The hospital in Kenya serves over 120,000 underserved patients through community medical camps. It also offers ongoing training for doctors. The Kampala facility will follow the same model to strengthen Uganda’s medical education and healthcare services.
According to Mr. Khalani, the Kenyan facility reduced the number of patients traveling abroad for specialized care. In Uganda, they plan to train local doctors and bring in specialists. They will also launch modern nursing degree programs.
He advised Ugandans over 40 to schedule annual full-body checkups at the new facility. Early detection, he said, allows for timely treatment and better health outcomes.
The Nakawa campus already offers a variety of advanced services. These include specialized lab tests, neurophysiology, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, and oncology. Chemotherapy and kidney care are also available.
The hospital uses an electronic medical information system to manage patient records efficiently. This technology improves care and reduces wait times.
In summary, the Aga Khan University Nakawa campus and its upcoming teaching hospital will transform medical education in Uganda. It will offer high-quality training, modern health services, and expanded access to care for the region.
