The project, slated to begin in the 2026/2027 financial year, will be financed with World Bank support and implemented by the UPDF Engineering Brigade, which has become a key government contractor in major infrastructure projects.
Apac, Uganda: The government has allocated Shs92.8 billion for the long-awaited upgrade of Apac General Hospital into a Regional Referral Hospital, a major boost for health service delivery in Northern Uganda, but one already shadowed by growing concerns over transparency and accountability.
The announcement was made by Dr James Odongo, the Apac District Health Officer (DHO), during a budget conference held on Monday at the Apac District Council Hall.
“With Lira General Hospital now upgraded to a National Referral Hospital, government has considered Apac Hospital to be elevated to Regional Referral status effective next financial year,” Dr. Odongo told district leaders.
The project, slated to begin in the 2026/2027 financial year, will be financed with World Bank support and implemented by the UPDF Engineering Brigade, which has become a key government contractor in major infrastructure projects.
Dr. Odongo revealed that the district has already received Shs900 million — part of the total allocation — to construct two staff accommodation blocks at the hospital, marking the first phase of the ambitious upgrade. “We have already received Shs900 million for the construction of staff houses. This is the beginning of the bigger plan to expand Apac Hospital into a modern referral centre,” he said.
The funds are intended to ease the hospital’s chronic shortage of staff housing, which has long affected retention and service delivery.
Local Leaders Welcome Move, Demand Accountability
While the announcement sparked optimism among health workers and residents, district leaders warned against complacency, citing the region’s troubled record with government-funded projects.
Apac LC5 Vice Chairperson, Mr Odongo Tonny Jaspher, urged citizens and officials to closely monitor every stage of the project. “This is not just a government project, it is our project,” he said. “We must all watch how the Shs92.8 billion is utilized. Every leader, from the sub-county to the district, has a duty to ensure transparency.”
He cautioned that many projects in Northern Uganda have suffered from poor supervision and corruption, leading to shoddy work and abandoned sites.
The District Secretary for Education and Health, Mr. Sam Opira, confirmed that preparations for the groundbreaking and site handover to the UPDF Engineering Brigade were in the final stages. “Once the site is officially handed over, the UPDF Engineering Brigade will commence construction,” Opira told DailyExpress.
For residents, the upgrade promises to end years of hardship spent traveling long distances to Lira, Gulu, or Soroti for specialized medical care. The new facility is expected to bring advanced services, more medical staff, and better emergency and maternal health care to Apac and neighboring districts.
However, beneath the celebration lies skepticism rooted in past disappointments. “We’ve heard such promises before,” said one resident who preferred anonymity. “Until we see the hospital walls rising, we will not celebrate.”
Locals recall stalled projects across the region, health centers left incomplete, contractors unpaid, and funds unaccounted for. Many now view the Apac Hospital project as a litmus test of the government’s sincerity and ability to deliver large-scale health infrastructure.
A Test of Delivery and Trust
Analysts say the success or failure of the Shs92.8 billion project will determine not only healthcare outcomes in the region but also public trust in government spending.
If implemented effectively, the upgrade could transform healthcare across Apac, Kwania, Kole, and Oyam, reducing patient congestion at Lira and creating hundreds of new jobs for doctors, nurses, and medical technicians.
But the stakes are high. Past experiences with delayed payments, cost overruns, and incomplete structures continue to haunt Northern Uganda’s development projects.
“The difference between a promise and progress lies in transparency,” said a senior local leader. “We will celebrate only when we see a functional referral hospital, not another abandoned site.”
For Apac, the hospital upgrade stands as both a symbol of hope and a test of accountability. While residents say they are ready to cooperate with government agencies, they expect visible progress, not empty pledges.
As the 2026/2027 financial year approaches, all eyes now turn to Apac, where Shs92.8 billion could either redefine regional healthcare or become another headline of wasted potential.
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