The Joint Medical Store (JMS) has launched a 12-billion-shilling medical warehouse in Gulu City, a major investment expected to transform the distribution and availability of quality medical supplies across Northern Uganda.
The state-of-the-art facility, the second JMS branch outside Kampala, marks a milestone in the organization’s drive to decentralize health logistics and improve access to essential medicines. It will serve as a regional hub for the storage and distribution of medicines and medical supplies to hospitals, clinics, and health centers in the Acholi, Lango, and West Nile subregions.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Thursday, Bishop Robert Muhiirwa, chairman of the JMS Board of Trustees, said the new branch aligns with JMS’s mission to ensure every health facility can access affordable, quality, and reliable health solutions.
“With this development, our support of Jesus’s healing mission will be enhanced in the region and the country at large,” Bishop Muhiirwa said. He noted that for years, health facilities in Northern Uganda depended on deliveries from JMS’s central warehouse in Kampala, which often caused delays and logistical challenges.
“The distance and delays made it imperative that JMS bring services closer to the people,” he said. “This facility will not only improve efficiency but also create value for our partners and strengthen health systems across the region.”
The launch began with a thanksgiving Mass led by Archbishop Raphael P’Mony Wokorach of Gulu Archdiocese, who commended JMS for its investment in healthcare delivery. He said the new facility will ease access to quality medicines and ensure timely service delivery.
Gulu City Deputy Mayor Christine Olok welcomed the development, saying the city’s health centers have long struggled with shortages and inconsistent supplies. “This warehouse will help address those gaps,” she said.
Rt. Rev. Godfrey Luwum, Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda, said the facility will also help combat counterfeit medical products, which some health facilities have unknowingly purchased due to limited access to certified suppliers.
“There are people in this business only for profit, but JMS is here for the people,” he said. “Quality must meet the needs of our communities, and affordability should reflect the realities of the region.”
Dr. Patrick Oceng, Lira District Health Officer and chairperson of the Lira District Health Supervisory Authority, said the Gulu branch will enhance regulatory oversight. “Because JMS was far, many private clinics bought medicines from unverified suppliers, sometimes leading to counterfeit products,” he said. “Now, access to certified drugs will greatly improve.”
Built on land donated by the Gulu Archdiocese, the facility is expected to serve 22 districts across Northern Uganda, including Gulu, Amuru, Nwoya, Omoro, Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader, Agago, and parts of West Nile.
JMS, a not-for-profit organization jointly managed by the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau and the Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau, plans to open a third regional warehouse in Mbale City to serve Eastern Uganda.
Founded in 1979, JMS provides health commodities and supply chain solutions to public and private health facilities nationwide. Its expansion to Gulu is part of a broader effort to strengthen regional health systems, cut delivery costs, and ensure that even remote communities have access to safe and affordable medicines.
