Lira Blood Bank to address blood shortages in Northern Uganda

Lira City, (UG):- The Ministry of Health has officially launched the construction of the Lira Blood Bank, addressing critical challenges in blood storage and distribution in Northern Uganda. 

Lira University Teaching Hospital recently donated 20 acres of land to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for the construction of a Regional Blood Bank and a Regional Cancer Center of the allocated land, five acres have been reserved for the construction of a Heart Center.  

The construction, to be executed by the UPDF Engineers Brigade, is estimated to cost UGX 9.6 billion. This includes UGX 5.6 billion for construction and UGX 4 billion for equipping the facility. 

The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Friday, 21st March 2025, was officiated by the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero.

She was accompanied by key officials, including the Acting Director General, Dr Charles Olaro; The Director of Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, Dr Dorothy Byabazeire; and the Commissioner of the Health Infrastructure Department, Eng. George Otim. 

Dr. Aceng in her remarks noted that in 2020, a blood unit was established at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, but it did not fully meet the region’s blood needs.

She said as such her ministry lobbied for the new blood bank which would ensure the collection and safe storage of blood to save lives in the Lango sub-region and beyond. 

On his part, Dr Andrew Odur, Director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital highlighted that the hospital consumes 56% of the blood allocated to the Lango sub-region due to complex surgical procedures and emergency cases.

He added that the blood bank would meet the high demand and urged the community to actively participate in blood donation drives.

Lira City Mayor, Sam Atul, pledged full support for the project, focusing on improving road infrastructure to facilitate construction and future operations. “Good roads are vital for both the construction phase and the blood bank’s long-term functionality. The City Council will ensure road linkages are developed for the benefit of the entire Lango community,” Atul said. 

Maj. Kizito Mulwana, General Project Manager for the Lira Blood Bank Construction, assured stakeholders that the project is in safe hands under the stewardship of the Ministry of Defense.

He pledged to engage the community by utilizing local labor and sourcing construction materials from the Lango sub-region, boosting local economic empowerment. “I guarantee that the Lira Blood Bank will be a model project in terms of efficiency, community engagement, and long-term impact,” Maj. Mulwana said. 

Dr. Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng, Vice Chancellor of Lira University, on his part, said the Blood Bank project aligns with the university’s vision of hosting facilities that enhance healthcare services.

“The Blood Bank will be a boost to healthcare development in the region, as blood shortages have often impacted the delivery of healthcare services.”Ogwal Okeng said.