Gulu Military Hospital

Last updated

Gulu Military Hospital
Uganda location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Uganda
Geography
LocationGulu, Northern Uganda, Acholi sub-region, Northern Region, Uganda
Coordinates 02°46′57″N32°17′04″E / 2.78250°N 32.28444°E / 2.78250; 32.28444
Organisation
Care system Military
Funding Government hospital
Type Military hospital
Affiliated university Uganda People's Defence Force
Links
Lists Hospitals in Uganda

Gulu Military Hospital is a military medical facility located in Gulu, the largest city in the Northern Region of Uganda. The hospital serves as a crucial healthcare institution for Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) personnel and operates within the broader healthcare network of the Acholi sub-region. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Location

The hospital is strategically positioned in the city of Gulu, in Gulu District, in the Acholi sub-region, in Northern Uganda, on the campus of the headquarters of the 4th Division of the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), about 3 kilometres (2 mi) northwest of Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. [4] The facility is registered as a healthcare organization providing medical services to military personnel and their families. [1] [2] [5]

Regional healthcare

The hospital operates within a region that includes several other significant medical institutions. Gulu Regional Referral Hospital serves as the primary referral facility for the districts of Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo, and Pader. The regional hospital has been described as "a beacon of hope and healing" at the heart of Northern Uganda, established with a commitment to excellence in healthcare and serving as "a pillar of strength for the community since its inception." [6]

Other healthcare facilities in the area include St. Mary's Hospital Lacor and Gulu Independent Hospital, creating a network of medical services for the northern region. [7]

Military healthcare system

Gulu Military Hospital operates within Uganda's broader military healthcare infrastructure. The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) maintains a structured approach to military healthcare, with the organization's mission being to "transform the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) into a modern, professional, efficient and accountable force. [8]

Strategic importance

The hospital's location in Gulu reflects the strategic importance of the city as a military and administrative center for northern Uganda. The facility supports the UPDF's operations in the region and provides essential medical services to military personnel involved in various security and development activities in northern Uganda. [1] Recent events have highlighted the hospital's role in providing emergency medical care, including incidents involving military personnel requiring immediate medical attention. [9]

The hospital plays a critical role in providing medical services in the Acholi sub-region and contributes to regional health initiatives, such as the Gulu Cancer Registry. [10] As one of four hospitals contributing to the Gulu Cancer Registry, it collects cancer data from its wards and laboratories, aiding regional health research efforts. [10] [11]

The hospital’s infrastructure has faced challenges typical of Ugandan healthcare facilities, including aging equipment and buildings. A 2019 Ministry of Health report noted that Gulu Military Hospital was part of a rehabilitation project aimed at improving health infrastructure to deliver the Uganda National Minimum Health Care Package (UNMHCP). [12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gulu Military Hospital". eahealth.org. EA Health. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  2. 1 2 Odokonyero, Moses (5 July 2013). "Gulu: Clamouring for City Status After War". Cape Town: UrbanAfrica.Net. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  3. "The case for city status in post-war Gulu". openDemocracy. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  4. Globefeed.com (26 June 2016). "Distance between Kasubi Central Primary School, Gulu, Northern Region, Uganda and Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Gulu, Northern Region, Uganda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  5. "Police officer shot in Gulu attack succumbs to injuries". Monitor. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  6. "Gulu Regional Referral Hospital – Your Health, Our Priority" . Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  7. "St. Mary's Hospital Lacor – Guaranteed Affordable Medical Services" . Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  8. "Home - UPDF". 12 June 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  9. "Army chiefs, MPs evacuated after Kampala-Gulu highway motorcade crash". 22 November 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Uganda - Gulu Cancer Registry". African Cancer Registry Network. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  11. Okongo, Francis; Ogwang, David Martin; Liu, Biying; Maxwell Parkin, Donald (15 June 2019). "Cancer incidence in Northern Uganda (2013-2016)". International Journal of Cancer. 144 (12): 2985–2991. doi:10.1002/ijc.32053. ISSN   1097-0215. PMID   30536374.
  12. "Rehabilitation and Construction of General Hospitals". Ministry of Health, Government of Uganda. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2025.