On Wednesday 13th May, 2026, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) has officially solidified a transformative partnership with the Children’s Surgical Hospital in Entebbe, managed by EMERGENCY. The two institutions signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening mutual collaboration in specialized pediatric care, medical research, and advanced clinical training.
The milestone event represents a vital bridge between academic expertise and specialized clinical care, promising to elevate the standards of medical education and healthcare outcomes for the youngest patients across the region.
High-level National and Institutional backing
The signing ceremony was graced by Dr. Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health (MoH), who pledged the Ministry’s full commitment to the success of the partnership.
“This synergy between academic excellence and state-of-the-art clinical infrastructure is exactly what the country needs to transform pediatric healthcare outcomes,” Dr. Olaro remarked, commending the two institutions for aligning their vision.
Welcoming the university into their network, Mr. Giacomo Menaldo, Country Director of the Children’s Surgical Hospital, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration.
“Welcome to the family, MUST!” Menaldo stated. He highlighted the hospital’s expansive regional footprint, noting that it regularly handles complex cases from neighboring and regional countries including Burundi, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Chad, and Ethiopia.
Expanding the Horizons of Training: MUST Vice Chancellor, Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika, expressed profound gratitude to the Ministry of Health and the leadership of the Children’s Surgical Hospital for selecting MUST as a key academic partner.
During her remarks, Prof. Byakika-Kibwika particularly complimented the hospital’s “admirable” Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices and its world-class facility maintenance, noting that it provides the perfect environment for students to master clinical excellence. Looking to the future, the Vice Chancellor advocated for an immediate expansion of the initial scope of the agreement.
“While we begin with core medical disciplines, we must expand this MoU to systematically integrate Radiology, Biomedical Engineering, Physiotherapy, and other allied health sciences. Our goal is to ensure that students across all medical fields learn from the very best,” the Vice Chancellor urged.
A Powerhouse Delegation:To seal the partnership, the Vice Chancellor was accompanied by a robust delegation of institutional leaders and medical heads, representing a unified front dedicated to academic and specialized clinical excellence:
- Joseph Ngonzi – Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)
- Elias Kumbakumba – Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences
- Peter Kalubi – Head of Department, Pediatrics
- Felix Onyania – Head of Department, Surgery & Pediatric Surgeon
- Angella Nakato Muyingo – Senior Communications Officer
A comprehensive tour of Clinical and Technical excellence
Following the official signing, the MUST powerhouse team embarked on a detailed tour of the facility to assess its learning and clinical environments. The delegation visited critical clinical zones including the Outpatient Department (OPD), Laboratory, Operating Theaters, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), High Dependency Unit (HDCU), Isolation Unit, and Nursing Stations. The holistic architecture of the facility including the Social Work Desk, Guest House, and Cafeteria showcased an integrated approach to patient healing and student learning.
Inside the Technical Engine: Biomedical Engineering
“A major highlight of the tour was the visit to the facility’s technical support units. Eng. Aseel Satti shared insights into the vital, behind-the-scenes role played by the hospital’s technology team.
“We are the heartbeat of the hospital’s technology,” Eng. Satti explained. “From daily routine checks and equipment installation to defining specialized procurement specifications, we ensure every life-saving tool is precision-ready.”
The technical responsibilities outlined by Eng. Satti align perfectly with the core pillars of MUST’s Clinical Engineering/Biomedical Engineering goals:
- Technology Lifecycle Management: Assisting in procurement and defining specifications to ensure the acquisition of “future-ready” medical technology.
- Preventive Maintenance (PM): Performing routine inspections and specialized tasks—like maintaining medical fridges to prevent equipment failure before it happens, safeguarding patients while cutting costs.
- Calibration and Testing: Verifying the precision of vital theater monitors and laboratory analyzers to guarantee accurate diagnoses and safe treatments.
- Information Systems & Data Integrity: Managing communication interfaces and secure storage backups, mirroring the modern industry shift toward Medical Imaging and Informatics.
This tight alignment reinforces why university leadership is eager to deploy MUST Biomedical Engineering students to the facility, offering them a rare blend of hardware maintenance and digital systems management training.
Spotted: MUST Alumni Leading the Charge: The institutional visit turned into a moment of immense pride as the delegation encountered several MUST alumni excelling within the hospital’s specialized departments. Their presence stands as a powerful testament to the university’s track record of nurturing future-ready, high-caliber professionals.
Seeing MUST graduates at the forefront of specialized pediatric healthcare underscores the institution’s growing reputation as a hub of competent, globally competitive medical talent.
About the Children’s Surgical Hospital, Entebbe
Opened in 2021 by the international humanitarian organization EMERGENCY, the Children’s Surgical Hospital was established to address a critical gap in specialized healthcare in Uganda one of the world’s youngest nations, where more than half the population is under the age of 15. At its inception, the country faced an under-five mortality rate of 43 per 1,000 live births.
The state-of-the-art facility serves as a major national and regional point of reference for elective pediatric surgery. By introducing 72 specialized beds (6 in Intensive Care, 16 in Sub-Intensive Care, and 50 in the main ward), the hospital effectively tripled the total number of pediatric surgery beds available in Uganda.
Operating daily across three high-tech surgical theaters, the medical teams systematically manage a comprehensive waiting list to treat deep-set conditions, including:
- Congenital birth defects and gastrointestinal (GI) tract abnormalities
- Urological and gynecological conditions
- Cheiloschisis (Cleft Lip and Palate)
- Bile duct illnesses and general pediatric surgical conditions
The facility features an observation and stabilization ward, six outpatient clinics, an advanced diagnostic center, an analytical laboratory, a blood bank, a pharmacy, and essential auxiliary services like a canteen and laundry. To accommodate families traveling from afar, the hospital also provides a free-of-charge Guest House, ensuring a holistic, supportive environment for patient rehabilitation and recovery.
