Mulago National Referral Hospital is set to conduct multiple kidney transplant surgeries in 2026 as part of its plan to expand and institutionalize its transplant program into a routine medical service by 2027. The hospital aims to make kidney transplantation more accessible for Ugandan patients, reducing the need for costly medical travel abroad.

The upcoming schedule for kidney transplants includes surgeries in February, April, July, and October, marking a significant step toward regularizing the procedure. The first cohort of patients scheduled for surgery next year includes high-profile medical professionals, such as Uganda’s first female orthopaedic surgeon, who had previously appealed to the public for financial support to undergo treatment abroad.

According to Dr. Frank Asiimwe, a transplant surgeon at Mulago Hospital, the hospital has invited patients like her for a comprehensive assessment to determine eligibility for local transplantation. “Provided they meet the necessary clinical criteria and terms, we are prepared to offer them the same high standard of surgical care provided to the 12 Ugandans we have successfully treated recently,” he said. Dr. Asiimwe added that if the assessment finds that Mulago is not the most suitable facility, patients would be referred to appropriate centers abroad.

Mulago’s transplant program, launched in December 2023, follows a rigorous patient screening process. Dr. Peace Bagasha, a kidney disease specialist at Mulago, explained that patients are assessed based on factors such as age, medical history, comorbidities, ability to afford lifelong anti-rejection medication, and nationality, with the program currently limited to Ugandan patients.

The hospital’s expansion comes as kidney failure remains one of the leading causes of medical referrals abroad. Dr. Ronny Bahatungire, the Commissioner for Clinical Services at the Ministry of Health, noted that four out of every ten referrals from Uganda are related to organ transplantation. It is estimated that around 400 Ugandans currently live with kidney failure, many relying on dialysis, a costly and time-consuming procedure, while others await treatment.

As the program grows, Mulago Hospital aims to increase capacity and offer regular kidney transplant surgeries as part of routine hospital services, reinforcing its role as a leading medical referral center in the region.