Lira Hospital Seeks More Capacity as Patient Numbers Rise to 1,000 Daily

What the report says

Dokolo Post reports that Lira Regional Referral Hospital in northern Uganda is seeking urgent expansion of its infrastructure and workforce as daily patient traffic rises to about 1,000. Hospital Director Dr Andrew Odur made the appeal during a Baraza held at the hospital grounds on Thursday, July 30, 2026, saying the facility is under growing pressure from patients seeking specialised care.

According to the report, Dr Odur urged the Ministry of Health to consider building an additional complex at the hospital and called for nearby Health Centre IVs in neighbouring districts to be upgraded into district hospitals. He said that would allow more patients to receive care closer to home and reduce referrals to Lira. The hospital currently has five dialysis machines serving about 15 patients a day, but demand has grown as patients arrive from Lango, Karamoja, Teso, West Nile and other parts of northern Uganda.

The hospital also expects expanded staffing and specialist services. Dr Odur said the Health Service Commission is expected to deploy a psychiatric specialist, while the facility is targeting 35 specialists by the end of the financial year and plans to recruit 153 additional staff. He also cited teenage pregnancies in Lango and rising road traffic accidents as issues adding to the burden on health services.

The Baraza reviewed concerns including alleged extortion, delays, medicine shortages, disability access and CT scan fees. Ministry of Health representative Dr Bagala John Paul said such community engagements will become routine in public health facilities and urged health workers to avoid absenteeism and illegal charges. Lira City Resident Commissioner Lawrence Egole praised the hospital’s growth as a referral centre and called for professionalism and compassion in patient care.