NHCC Set to Construct UGX 180 Billion College of Health Sciences at MUST

The National Housing and Construction Corporation (NHCC) has officially taken on one of Uganda’s largest recent public-sector education infrastructure projects—the construction of the new UGX 180 billion College of Health Sciences at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST). The groundbreaking officiated by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, marked the beginning of a transformative venture expected to elevate Uganda’s capacity for training health professionals. 

Speaking on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni, Tayebwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening public universities with specialized faculties that support national development goals. He praised MUST for its long-standing contribution to producing medical experts and advancing scientific research, especially during critical moments such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tayebwa revealed that government has already secured UGX 31 billion as part of the project financing. He emphasized that universities must remain focused on delivering high-quality, transformative programs:

“The moment you remain focused, we shall also be focused on supporting you. We are even going to support you more because during COVID, the Lung Institute did great for us,” he said.

NHCC Takes Charge of a Landmark Project

NHCC Board Chairperson Hon. Sylvester Wanjuzi Wasieba pledged that the corporation would deliver a modern and fully functional facility within the stipulated three-year timeline. He reaffirmed NHCC’s readiness and capacity to implement large-scale public infrastructure projects that align with Uganda’s development agenda.

NHCC Chief Executive Officer Engineer Kaijuka Kenneth elaborated that the new College of Health Sciences will sit on 7.8 acres of land and will feature extensive internal and external works. These include state-of-the-art training facilities, sewerage and drainage systems, power installations, specialized gas lines, and other essential utilities required for a modern medical training environment. Kaijuka confirmed that NHCC is fully prepared to mobilize resources and commence construction immediately.

A Major Boost to Health Training and Research

The project represents MUST’s first fully-fledged college development since its establishment 36 years ago and is expected to significantly expand the university’s training capacity. According to Dr. Joseph Ngozi, Head of the Faculty of Health Sciences, the current faculty operates with 25 departments specializing in various medical fields. The new college will consolidate and expand these efforts through six schools:

School of Medicine and Dentistry

School of Biomedical Sciences

School of Medical Laboratory Science

School of Public Health

School of Nursing 

School of Dentistry

The college will operate under a principal and deputy principal, with each school managed by deans, deputy deans, and departmental heads.

MUST Guild President Lucky Ariho Rwabuturumba welcomed the development, noting that existing infrastructure is overstretched and inadequate for the growing student population and evolving health-training demands. He said the new facility will help expand academic offerings and improve the quality of training.

Government Reaffirms Commitment to Scientific Advancement

During MUST’s 34th graduation ceremony last week, Minister of Agriculture Frank Tumwebaze—delivering a message from First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni—announced an additional UGX 25 billion government investment toward the establishment of the college. He reiterated the government’s long-term ambition to position MUST as a regional centre of excellence in science, research, and innovation.

A Milestone for Uganda’s Health and Education Sectors

Once completed, the College of Health Sciences is expected to play a pivotal role in producing highly skilled health professionals, boosting research output, and enhancing Uganda’s preparedness for future health challenges. For NHCC, the project reinforces its national mandate as a leading provider of high-quality public infrastructure.

The construction of the new college stands not only as a major achievement for MUST, but also as a strategic national investment that will shape the future of medical training and healthcare delivery in Uganda.