The Uganda government with international investors is going to construct an international specialized hospital, President Yoweri Museveni has revealed.
The President explained that he was in Italy as a visitor to the Vatican where he had been hosted by Pope Francis in the morning. He said that Uganda values the relationship between Italy and the Vatican. Museveni was speaking at a dinner hosted in his honour by Italian investors in Rome yesterday.
He disclosed that the project will be jointly financed by government and Finasi an Italian investment company headed by Ms Enrica Panetti. Ms Panetti and her team showed the President progress on the project.
President Museveni told the audience that Ugandans have been spending colossal sums of money to seek specialized treatment from other countries like India.
“This hospital will help us to treat specialized cases at home instead of donating money to other countries,” he said. The hospital which will be established at Lubowa on Entebbe road, will have specialized units, modern equipment and experienced doctors.
The Hospital, according to the President will treat cases such as cancer, brain trauma, kidney and other specialized diseases that cannot be treated in Uganda currently.
According to the model artwork, it will be a complex with several units, theaters, Doctors accommodation and training facilities. The President was informed that the current hospitals in the country are outdated in a way that incoming and outpatients use the same corridors that can spread diseases. This, the doctors pointed out, was a serious health hazard which should be avoided in modern hospitals.
Museveni thanked Ms Pinnetti and other Italian investors who have identified Uganda’s investment potential. He said that the first fish factory at Masese was financed by Italian funds opening the way for other fish projects. He said that with the completion of this project, other investors have put up over 2O fish factories,
On behalf of the investors, Ms Penetti assured the President that the project will be completed in time. She also assured the President that a delegation of investors and financial institutions will visit Uganda very soon to explore more projects to invest in, She praised Uganda’s ambassador to Italy Grace Akello for consolidating the relationship between the two countries.
“I consider myself a Nalongo because I consider Uganda and Italy as my two homes” she said. The President appealed to the investors to take advantage of Uganda’s potential.
“Uganda is the most beautiful country on earth, we have permanent snow on the equator, we have minerals that have not been exploited and oil and gas,” he said.
The President enumerated a number of government incentives to investors including repatriation of their profits freely.
The President was accompanied by the first lady Janet Museveni, Minister of Local Government Adolf Mwesigye, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Okello Oryem; NRM chief Whip Kasule Lumumba; Mengo’s Minister Christine Gloria Mugerwa; Kamuli district chairperson Proscovia Salaam Musumba; Maama Thereza Mbiire and other people who accompanied the President to the Vatican.
President Museveni also met the Director General of FAO Graziano da Silva who was accompanied by his deputy Ms Helena Semade. President who was with the first lady and Minister of Kalamoja discussed the situation in Karamoja especially the projects financed by the organization.
The first Lady hailed the efforts of the organization but observed that some of the projects indicated on the list were not visible. She called for more cooperation and monitoring as well as planning the projects in order to benefit the people of Karamoja.
The Director General agreed with the first lady to ensure that the projects are well managed and that there should involvement of the Ministry in planning. He promised to provide more information to the First Lady’s office as Minister in charge of Karamoja and an inspection team.