Retired Brigadier General Emmanuel Rwashande has taken residents of Lwemiyaga on a tour of a new Health Centre IV facility under construction at Kasunga village, describing the project as a major step toward improving healthcare for women and families in the constituency.
The project marks the foundation launch of a women’s hospital at Health Centre IV level and is being built in Kasunga village, Lwemibbu parish, Lwemiyaga Sub-county with support from the UPDF Engineering Brigade.
Rwashande said the facility will significantly improve maternal, reproductive and emergency healthcare services, while reducing pressure on the existing health system.
According to Lieutenant Solomon Kagogwe of the UPDF Engineering unit, the project is budgeted at Shs 1.4 billion and is expected to be completed within one year, with construction progressing steadily.
Rwashande used the inspection to underscore his commitment to addressing long-standing gaps in healthcare delivery in Lwemiyaga and urged residents to embrace the project as a shared community asset beyond political divisions.
“Politics is over, now development. Whether you supported my opponent or me, this hospital belongs to everyone,” Rwashande told residents who gathered to witness the progress.
The proposed Health Centre IV is viewed as a timely intervention given the dire conditions at Lwemiyaga Health Centre III, which serves more than 70,000 people from over 20 surrounding villages.
Health workers at the facility have repeatedly raised concerns about overcrowding, poor sanitation and inadequate infrastructure, warning that the centre is overstretched and places both patients and staff at risk.
Health staff say the HC III often receives more than 100 new patients daily, including about 30 expectant mothers, despite operating with only 13 personnel and improvised spaces for critical services.
In many cases, patients are referred to distant facilities in Sembabule town or Masaka, increasing the risk of complications during transit.
Sembabule District Health Officer Dr Charles Matovu welcomed Rwashande’s initiative, saying the Health Centre IV will “greatly improve healthcare outcomes in Lwemiyaga.”
He described the current HC III as unable to meet rising demand and pledged government support to ensure the new hospital is fully equipped and staffed once completed.
Healthcare access remains a major concern across Sembabule District, with local advocacy and national discussions highlighting the need for expanded infrastructure and better resourcing.
District leaders say upgrading facilities closer to communities reduces referrals to distant hospitals, saves lives and strengthens public confidence in local health systems.
As construction continues, residents have expressed optimism that the new Health Centre IV will improve health outcomes for women, children and families in Lwemiyaga and significantly ease the burden on the ageing Health Centre III.
