Playing a vital role in the nation’s health, the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) was established in 1988 and is currently a super-specialised leading provider of cardiovascular services and the only national referral facility for heart diseases in Uganda. 

Operating as an autonomous body, mandated by the UHI Act of 2016 to manage and coordinate the country’s efforts in addressing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), it is overseen by a Board of Directors responsible for carrying out the functions assigned by the act. 

“Our vision is to be a global centre of excellence in the provision of cardiovascular care, and our mission is to provide preventive, promotive, and clinical services and conduct research and training in the relevant science,” introduces Dr John Omagino, Executive Director.  

UHI has attained the technical capacity to offer a complete range of cardiac services comparable to any centre of excellence in the world. This is for both children and adults, comprising diagnostic, non-invasive, and invasive procedures, intensive care and coronary care services, diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterisation services, and open heart surgery. 

Given the necessary operational adequate funding, UHI can comprehensively handle 95 percent of adult cases, including valve and coronary bypass surgery, plus 85 percent of paediatric cases. 

Additionally, it can ably teach and train cardiac super-specialists in the cardiac super speciality and conduct high-calibre research to ensure quality care and generate the necessary data to guide policy, reducing the percentage of people being referred abroad to less than five percent. 

“We serve a diverse and growing base of over 25,000 patients annually, drawn from all regions of Uganda and neighbouring countries,” Omagino explains. 

UHI currently has a committed team of over 300 staff members, including cardiac critical care, adult and paediatric cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac anaesthesia, cardiac nursing, allied and therapeutic professionals, and corporate staff, all working collaboratively to provide world-class cardiovascular care.