By Ben Musanje
14th Aug 2023
The Kampala Archdiocesan Ecclesiastical Province together with the Ministry of Health has commissioned the Organ Transplant Theater at the Lubaga Hospital.
The facility is named after the former medical superintendent of Lubaga Hospital, the Late Dr Rita Moser and it is expected to conduct three organ transplants including Cornea, Liver and Kidney.
The Archbishop of Kampala, Most Rev Paul Ssemogerere while speaking to the journalists during the commissioning of the facility at Lubaga hospital, noted that the Transplant Theater isn’t only for the rich patients but also those that cannot afford to fly to foreign countries like India for an organ transplant.
Dr Henry Mwebesa, the Director General Health Services in the Ministry of Health emphasizes that though the facility has been commissioned but it hasn’t been accredited until the Organ Transplant Council inspects and approves it to start the transplant.
Dr Julius Luyimbaazi, the Executive Director of Lubaga Hospital says the facility has cost them over one billion shillings to set it up but hopes to offer the transplant services at a cheaper charge compared to the 17000 USD spent in India on Kidney transplant.
Lubaga Hospital and Mulago National Referral Hospital are the first private and public health institutions respectively to show readiness in conducting the organ transplant in Uganda following the enactment of the Uganda Human Organ Donation and Transplant Act 2021 that regulates the donation of organs, cells and tissues.
The legislation adopted in May 2023 provides avenues to harmonize organ donations and transplants while addressing the issues of illicit trading and protection of the dignity and identify of every person so as to guarantee their respect and integrity
Established in 1899 by the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, Lubaga Hospital is said to be the oldest Catholic Hospital in Uganda owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala.
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