A few weeks shy of celebrating a decade of advancing lung health for all through research, training and patient care, the Makerere University Lung Institute (MLI) on 4^th November 2025 unveiled a landmark expansion project, set to provide world-class care and contribute to global lung health research. The proposed six-level facility will house the Centre for Advanced Pulmonary and Intensive Care (CAPIC), Centre for Clinical Investigation (CCI), and Centre for Capacity Enhancement (CCE). Upon completion these units will deliver advanced respiratory care, cutting-edge research, and specialist training for pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, and respiratory scientists. MLI’s year-long celebrations of a decade of existence will culminate in a grand event to be held on 27^th and 28^th November 2025.

Officials laud MLI Milestones

Addressing officials at the site handover ceremony who included the Executive Director, Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH)-Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, Chairperson MLI Board of Directors-Prof. Charles Ibingira, Founder and Director MLI-Prof. Bruce Kirenga among others, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe commended MLI on milestones such as treating 20,000 patients to-date. “Thank you Prof. Kirenga for having the vision to start and grow the Lung Institute, and to hear that you have already raised some of the funds to commence this phase of the project is commendable,” Prof. Nawangwe lauded.

The MLI Expansion Project (MEP) is valued at UGX 66.84Bn (US$18.06M) comprising of construction of a 5,139sqm building valued at US14.04 M, specialist training valued at US$ 1.43M, and equipment valued at US$2.59M. It will be located on Mulago Hill on land allocated by the MNRH Board of Directors, a gesture the Vice Chancellor sincerely appreciated the Executive Director Dr. Byanyima for.

“Thank you for offering this land Dr. Byanyima. Makerere University and Mulago National Referral Hospital as top institutions our country must work together because if Makerere succeeds at conducting research, the hospital benefits” added Prof. Nawangwe.

MLI’s Role in Advancing Lung Health

Dr. Byanyima in her remarks acknowledged that it was during the CoVID-19 pandemic that the importance of lung health and the role played by MLI was brought to the fore. “But I’m glad that (pandemic) made the Lung Institute grow stronger and on the Hill (Mulago) when we have a unit growing stronger, we have an obligation to support it, not that we abdicate our responsibilities, but we know that it is shared responsibility.”

She therefore thanked Prof. Kirenga for his foresightedness in always thinking of projects that benefit the public. “Mulago Hill does not expand; there are many needs and as MNRH we are looking for land elsewhere. So for the Lung Institute to have been given an opportunity to get a few square metres is because you showed justified cause,” complimented Dr. Byanyima.

The Chairperson MLI Board acknowledged that the Lung Institute has not only received support from MNRH but from its mother Ministry of Health, and other Government entities such as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, which is supporting MLI’s Clinical Trials Centre and the current expansion project. Prof. Ibigira equally thanked the University for the good policies that facilitate the creation and growth of centres of excellence.

“As the board, we pledge to ensure that this expansion project is executed with excellence, transparency and timeliness, and look forward to a facility that will stand as a beacon of hope in innovation and global excellence in lung health” remarked Prof. Ibingira.

In his remarks, Prof. Bruce Kirenga noted that it is critical that centres of excellence such as MLI are located around MNRH so as to synergize general and specialized healthcare services offered to the public. He therefore thanked Dr. Byanyima and the MNRH Board for not only allocating land for MLI’s expansion but also the two buildings within the Hospital complex that have boosted Institute operations since its founding in 2015.

“These two buildings house the Clinical Trials Ward and the Vaccine House, which is the biggest cold room for vaccines in the country apart from National Medical Stores. This has enhanced our capability in research, storage of vaccines, and most importantly, we can also store a large amount of investigational vaccines, and right now we are being profiled as a centre for stockpiling investigational vaccines on the continent” Prof. Kirenga elaborated, before adding “and we have the largest specialist clinic in the region for treating people with complex lung diseases.”

Scope of works

According to Eng. Ezra Sekadde, Head of the Project Management Team, the construction phase of the MEP has been divided into three stages; 1a to renovate an existing onsite structure for MLI operations, 1b to construct the six-level facility, and 2 to complete internal and external finishes as well as concrete paving and access road works.

Construction will be undertaken by CK Associates within a period of seven months. The Fundraising Committee for the MEP will be chaired by Prof. Tonny Oyana, the Principal, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).