At 11 months into the contract period, the physical structure is nearly complete. Only finishing touches, installation of specialized medical equipment, and the final handover to the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) remains.
In the heart of northern Uganda, a quiet transformation is taking shape at Lira Regional Referral Hospital. Concrete walls stand firm under the midday sun, workers move with measured urgency, and the promise of thousands of saved lives echoes through the corridors of a nearly completed Regional Blood Bank.
Phase one of the sh9.6bn project now stands at 98 percent complete—an achievement that signals more than the end of construction. It marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Lango sub-region.
A Vision Built on Generosity and Need
The project broke ground in March 2025 on land generously donated by Lira University Teaching Hospital. From the outset, the goal was ambitious: to establish a modern facility capable of processing 48,000 units of blood annually—enough to meet the demands of a region where emergencies, maternal health complications, surgeries, and chronic illnesses create a constant need for safe blood.
For years, the hospital relied on a blood collection center, one of several scattered across the country. While helpful, it could not fully address the increasing demand. Patients and their families often faced anxious waits, uncertain whether life-saving blood would be available in time.
The new blood bank promises to change that reality.
Engineering Hope
The construction works have been undertaken by the Engineering Brigade of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). At 11 months into the contract period, the physical structure is nearly complete. Only finishing touches, installation of specialized medical equipment, and the final handover to the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) remains.
Alex Tumwesigye, Senior Engineer at the Ministry of Health and project manager, walks through the site with visible satisfaction. Unlike similar projects elsewhere that have stalled or struggled, Lira’s blood bank has progressed steadily.
Funding, he confirms, is fully secured.
“There should be no reason to find this site abandoned,” he assures confidently—a statement that carries weight in a region where incomplete public projects have sometimes dampened public trust.
Meeting a Critical Demand
Inside the hospital’s busy wards, the urgency is unmistakable. Dr. Andrew Odur, Acting Director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, knows firsthand the consequences of blood shortages.
The demand is high. Too high.
Expectant mothers experiencing complications, accident victims, children battling severe anemia—all depend on a reliable blood supply. Dr. Odur believes the new facility will finally allow the hospital to meet its needs without the delays and uncertainties of the past.
Yet even as the structure nears completion, he is already thinking ahead.
Staff housing remains a pressing concern. The sophisticated equipment that will soon be installed requires trained personnel to operate and maintain it. Those professionals will need accommodation if the facility is to function at full capacity.
And above all, quality must not be compromised.
“There is no compromise in quality,” Dr. Odur insists. “We are very particular about what will be delivered, but we are happy with what has been done so far.”
For him, excellence is not optional—it is an obligation. “Let’s make sure that the quality of work is at 100 percent. This will bring value for money for the government of Uganda.”
Overcoming the Final Hurdles
Fahad Kisosonkole from the UPDF Engineering Brigade acknowledges that the project has not been without challenges. Construction, especially on a facility of this scale and complexity, rarely proceeds without obstacles. Yet he remains confident.
The team, he assures, will complete the project on time.
As the finishing touches approach, anticipation builds—not just among hospital staff, but across the Lango sub-region. For many communities, this facility represents more than bricks and mortar. It represents preparedness. It represents dignity in healthcare. It represents a lifeline.
Soon, when the doors officially open and the first units of blood are processed, the Regional Blood Bank will stand as a testament to collaboration—between government institutions, engineers, health professionals, and the community itself.
And in its sterile, carefully lit rooms, thousands of lives each year will quietly be given a second chance.
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