The Ministry of Health has commissioned an ultra-modern satellite laboratory in Lira City, a facility that is expected to boost diagnostic services across the Lango sub-region
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Friday, Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng described the new laboratory as a game-changer for clinical practice in northern Uganda.
“It is a laboratory that is ultra-modern and will serve the entire Lango sub-region and beyond. We have ultra-modern equipment in this laboratory, and we are able to do all the tests that anyone would require in clinical practice,” Dr. Aceng said.
The state-of-the-art laboratory, built at a cost of shs4.5 billion, was funded under the Uganda COVID-19 Response and Emergency Preparedness Project.
Dr. Aceng said that despite the hardships of COVID-19, the pandemic also brought important investments in the health sector, with this laboratory being one of the key benefits.
"The facility is fully equipped with modern diagnostic equipment, enabling tests in parasitology, immunology, cancer markers, cardiac markers, haematology, and biochemistry, among others. More equipment is expected to be installed soon to further expand the laboratory's capacity," she said.
Dr Aceng said the government is currently considering setting up a Biosafety Level 3 section at the facility to handle dangerous pathogens such as Ebola and viral hemorrhagic fevers, reducing the need to send samples to distant laboratories.
“One of the things that is extremely important, and I want to agree with my Permanent Secretary, is that we should set a section for Biosafety Level 3, so that when we get pathogens with outbreak potential, we don’t have to take samples far away,” Dr. Aceng explained.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine praised the project as an example of government’s commitment to serving its citizens.
“This is what government means when it plans for the people and works for the people. There is a reason we are in Lira commissioning this lab. There are not many places where we’ve been able to do everything at once. But why Lira now? It is because we have a leader who has been lobbying and getting things done in Lira,” she said.
“This laboratory will help diagnose diseases quickly, ensuring people receive timely treatment. It will also reduce the cost of travelling to Kampala for sophisticated tests because now Kampala has come to Lira,” she added.
Dr Atwine called on authorities at Lira University to collaborate with the facility for medical research, eliminating the need to send research samples to Kampala.
“Lira University will use this lab to do research, and they won’t have to refer their samples to Kampala. We urge academicians to work closely with hospital staff to ensure we fully utilize these machines,” Dr. Atwine said.
The laboratory is equipped to conduct cancer screenings, viral testing, and bacterial cultures, providing tailored treatment recommendations.
“The machines we have put in this lab can test for cancers, check bone status, and analyze bacterial resistance to medications. This will ensure people receive accurate treatments,” says Dr. Atwine.
Lira Regional Referral Hospital acting Director Dr. Andrew Odur welcomed the facility, saying it would improve patient management by enabling quick and accurate diagnoses.
"Previously, we had to send samples to Kampala or even abroad for specialized tests, delaying treatment. But now, with this laboratory in place, we can diagnose conditions such as cancer, bacterial infections, and viral diseases much faster, allowing us to initiate treatment promptly," Dr. Odur said.
Dr. Odur said the new equipment will also ease the workload for laboratory technicians at the referral hospital, who have struggled with outdated machines.
"This facility will complement our hospital laboratory services, reducing congestion and ensuring that even patients from smaller health facilities in the region can access advanced diagnostic tests here," he said.