Jinja, Uganda – Jinja Regional Referral Hospital (JRRH) has inaugurated a new 13-member Hospital Management Board tasked with providing strategic direction, strengthening institutional governance and supporting efforts to improve the quality of healthcare services.

The inauguration took place on October 29, 2026, presided over by the Minister of State for Health in charge of General Duties, Hon. Anifa Bangirana Kawooya, during her support supervision visit to the hospital.

The new Board comprises eight male and five female members, with six new members joining seven continuing members, bringing together a blend of fresh perspectives and institutional experience. The members had earlier undergone an induction to familiarise themselves with Board operations, governance responsibilities and procedures for conducting business.

Dr. Sarah Naikoba, nominated by Jinja City, was inaugurated as the Board Chairperson. In her maiden address, she pledged the Board’s commitment to working with hospital management to address key institutional challenges, particularly those affecting the quality of healthcare delivery.

She identified congestion, inadequate infrastructure and limited space as some of the critical issues requiring attention, specifically highlighting the need to improve the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department and expand maternity services to accommodate the growing number of patients seeking care.

Dr. Naikoba emphasised that the Board would prioritise strategic interventions aimed at improving the hospital environment, strengthening service delivery and ensuring that patients receive quality care.

Presiding over the inauguration, Hon. Kawooya congratulated the incoming and continuing members and urged them to execute their responsibilities with integrity, commitment and ethical leadership. She emphasised the importance of teamwork, consensus-building and dialogue in managing institutional affairs and resolving challenges.

The Minister also called for regular reviews of Board guidelines, continuous capacity building and structured engagements with the Ministry of Health. She underscored the need for feedback on reports submitted to the Minister’s office and proposed annual engagements to review progress, share feedback and strengthen the Board’s effectiveness.

She further commended JRRH management and staff for the teamwork, dedication and commitment demonstrated in delivering healthcare services, noting that the hospital’s progress reflected the importance of effective leadership and collaboration.

The inauguration also provided an opportunity to reaffirm the partnership between the Ministry of Health, hospital management, the Board and local government leadership in advancing the hospital’s mandate.

The Board members took their oaths, committing themselves to serving diligently, ethically and in the best interests of the institution and the communities it serves.

The newly inaugurated Board is expected to provide strategic oversight, strengthen accountability and guide the hospital’s institutional development as it continues pursuing its ambition of attaining National Referral Hospital status.

Jinja Regional Referral Hospital congratulates Dr. Sarah Naikoba and all Board members on their inauguration and looks forward to a productive tenure focused on improved governance, stronger institutional capacity and quality healthcare for the people of Busoga and beyond.

By Martha Agama Elizabeth