Kibuli Muslim hospital launches branch in Butambala

By Abdul Wahid Kakande and Hajji Yunus Ntale

Residents of Butambala and the neighbouring districts no longer need to travel to Kampala to access the services of Kibuli Muslim hospital.

The hospital has established a fully-fledged branch at Kabasanda in its move to take its services closer to the people.

Commissioning the branch on Saturday November 15, 2025, Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu, the titular head of the Muslim community in the country urged the government to strengthen health funding by allocating more resources to the health sector in the national budget.

“I request the government to increase funding to the health sector because whatever we do unless we have a healthy population, there is no good use. I pray that the government prioritises the health sector,” Nakibinge said.

Kabasanda became the second branch of Kibuli Muslim hospital. The first branch of the hospital was opened in Kyanja, a Kampala suburb.

Nakibinge, also the patron of Kibuli Muslim hospital, said the government should think of reducing 30% of money allocated to other sectors and allocate the same to the health sector for a health and more productive population.

“I am making this request because not every person has the capacity to fly to India or Europe for health services. The best we can do to our population is to provide these services to them,” Nakibinge said.

Nakibinge thanked Baitulmaal, a US based charitable organisation, Every Pregnancy and Gates Foundation for their generous support towards the project.

Every Pregnancy and Gates Foundation equipped the maternity ward for the hospital in a bid to reduce the high maternal deaths in the country.

As missionary hospitals, Nakibinge said they are supplementing the government in strengthening the health sector in the country. The hospital was built on land donated by the family of the late Hajji Yusuf Tamale.

Nakibinge commended the Tamale family for generously donating the land towards saving lives with no strings attached.

Dr Mahmoud El-Gazar, the Kibuli Muslim hospital chief executive officer, said the branch is a fully fledged hospital with 22 bed capacity offering all diagnostic and maternity services.

“We request the community to make this hospital their number one choice for your health needs because we are here to serve you. We have 12 medical personnel that are going to be stationed here including two doctors with a standby ambulance for referrals,” he said.

Dr Gazar revealed that they intend to soon open a branch in Arua. “We will soon be everywhere because our goal is to take our services closer to the people. In Kampala, we are going to open more branches so that Kibuli becomes a referral,” he said.

By opening more branches, Dr Gazar said they are not only taking services closer to the people but also creating more employment opportunities for the health practitioners.

Butambala district assistant health officer, Faridah Nanyanzi, welcomed the hospital saying it will supplement their efforts to ensure that people have access to quality health services within a walkable distance.

“We have a population of about 140,000 people with 25 health facilities and one hospital (Gombe hospital). We, therefore, welcome Kibuli Muslim hospital and we hope to work with you as a district in ensuring a healthy population,” Nanyanzi said.

Abdul-Noor Muwonge, the Butambala district Chief Administrative Officer, promised to engage the officials of the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) on constant power outages in the district which the hospital management said is a big problem for them.

Founded in 1984 as a small clinic under the guidance of Prince Badru Kakukungulu, the hospital has grown into a full-fledged hospital that has greatly impacted the health sector in Uganda.