Lira Regional Referral Hospital has secured an additional 4.8 billion shillings to support recruitment of new staff in the 2026/2027 financial year, in a move aimed at addressing critical human resource shortages at the facility.
The hospital currently operates with 328 staff against a required establishment of 1,200, despite handling more than 400 outpatient cases daily.
During the first State of the Hospital Address on Wednesday, acting hospital director Dr. Andrew Odur said the facility’s wage bill has been increased from 10 billion to 14 billion shillings, enabling recruitment of consultants, associate consultants, nurses, midwives, allied health workers and support staff.
He said the human resource department has been tasked to fast-track recruitment to ensure new staff are deployed within the next financial year.
Dr. Odur also outlined infrastructure priorities for the coming year, including construction of a new ward complex, reclamation of 10.4 acres of encroached hospital land, completion of the perimeter fence and construction of staff housing. He said the projects are aimed at improving service delivery and easing congestion.
Among ongoing works expected to be completed before the end of the financial year are the expansion of the private wing, remodelling and paving of part of Police Road, equipping the theatre and installation of canopies along major walkways.
He said the hospital recently received 300 million shillings following an assessment between October and December last year in recognition of innovations and service delivery improvements. The funds will support further development initiatives.
Despite challenges, Odur said the hospital has expanded its specialist workforce from two to 17 over the past five years, including physicians, gynecologists, pediatricians, ICU specialists, nephrologists, ENT specialists, ophthalmologists and orthopedic surgeons.
He said services have also expanded to include a satellite laboratory accredited by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS), a 45-bed gynecology ward and a functional intensive care unit. Plans are underway to strengthen fertility, neonatology, cardiology, neuro-trauma and endoscopy services.
However, Odur raised concern over the persistently high disease burden, citing 7,592 malaria cases, 1,742 urinary tract infections and 1,038 cases of sickle cell disease.
“With the way we are going, why must we continue to record such a high burden of malaria?” he asked, noting that other countries have reduced mosquito prevalence through sustained control measures.
The hospital parliament speaker, Dr. Bosco Omongo, called for construction of a city mortuary, saying the current facility designed for 12 bodies is overstretched. He also urged government to increase funding as Lira prepares to host matches during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Lira Regional Referral Hospital serves nine districts and Lira City in the Lango sub-region, with a catchment population of about 2.5 million people. It has a 401-bed capacity and employs 328 government staff.
