KAMPALA, Uganda: Mulago National Referral Hospital has celebrated a major milestone after receiving the prestigious certification from the International Organization for Standardization, a recognition that places the country’s largest medical facility among globally accredited health service providers.
The achievement was officially announced on March 5, 2026, during a colourful recognition ceremony held at the hospital’s parking grounds. The event was presided over by the State Minister for Health, Hanifa Bangirana Kawooya.
Speaking during the ceremony, the hospital’s Executive Director, Rosemary Byanyima, said the medical complex secured international certification under three key ISO standards: ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems), and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems).
Dr. Byanyima explained that the certification process began in 2015 and was completed in 2025, marking a rigorous 10-year journey that involved comprehensive assessments, policy reforms, and training of staff across all levels of employment.
She commended the Government of Uganda for its technical and logistical support throughout the process, noting that the support greatly boosted employee morale and strengthened the relationship between health workers and patients.
However, she appealed for increased government funding to address key operational needs. These include enhanced support for medical supplies and sundries, a 25 percent budget increment, UGX 10 billion for new staff recruitment, and UGX 15 billion for equipment replacement and maintenance.
Dr. Byanyima also noted that attaining ISO recognition comes with greater responsibility. She emphasized the need to expand infrastructure and continually remind staff of their fundamental duty to respect patients’ rights at all times.
“This recognition means we must work even harder to maintain and improve the standards we have achieved,” she said. “The international community will closely monitor our performance indicators to ensure that we uphold the set standards.”
She added that the hospital now has a renewed mandate to restore and strengthen public confidence, particularly where trust may have been affected in the past. This, she said, will be achieved through teamwork and strengthened internal reconciliation mechanisms to resolve emerging challenges.
In her remarks, Minister Kawooya congratulated the hospital management and staff for what she described as a historic achievement. She said the certification demonstrates the hospital’s capability to deliver effective health services to the public.
“As a country, we are proud of this accomplishment,” she said. “Visitors and medical tourists searching online for ISO-certified health facilities will now easily find Mulago.”
The minister pledged to continue lobbying Parliament for additional funding to support the hospital’s expanding role and maintain its newly acquired global reputation.
She further revealed that she would present the hospital’s existing budget deficits before the relevant government authorities to address funding bottlenecks affecting service delivery.
Kawooya commending Dr. Byanyima and the hospital’s board for improving Mulago’s image, noting that the facility is increasingly trusted by the public and government officials alike when seeking medical care.
