MLI Site Handover

Kampala, Uganda | October 2025 As Makerere University Lung Institute (MLI) gears up to mark its 10-year anniversary later this month the Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe , has officially handed over the site for the construction of the Makerere University Lung Institute (The Lung Institute) Home Building to CK Associates Limited, for the advancement of lung health research, training, and care.

The event brought together senior Makerere University officials, the leadership of Mulago National Referral Hospital who generously provided land for the project, and the Lung Institute leadership team led by the Board Chair Prof. Charles Ibingira.

Prof. Nawangwe hailed Mulago Hospital for offering land to Makerere University, describing the gesture as a strengthening of the long-standing partnership between the two institutions. “The contribution of the Lung Institute to Uganda’s health sector cannot be ignored, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. MLI is extremely important I have witnessed many people lose their lives to respiratory illnesses. Since MLI has demonstrated that it can address these challenges, we must support it,”

The Chairperson of the MLI Board, Prof. Charles Ibingira, noted that the upcoming facility will house a Pulmonary Care Centre, an Intensive Care Unit, and spaces designed to enhance human resource development and specialized lung health services.

In his remarks, Prof. Bruce J. Kirenga, Founder and Director of The Lung Institute, expressed gratitude to Makerere University, the Government of Uganda, and the Institute’s local and international partners for their continued commitment to advancing health research and innovation.

He highlighted the Institute’s growing research capacity despite current space limitations, noting that it operates the second-largest cold room in Uganda, a minus 80°C, 2300cc facility capable of storing clinical and research materials.

“Mulago has allocated us this space to synergize our work. We are finalizing a memorandum of understanding with Mulago to further strengthen collaboration in research and clinical care,”

Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, the Executive Director of Mulago National Referral Hospital, commended the Lung Institute for its investments in clinical research and trials, emphasizing that such initiatives are transforming respiratory health care in Uganda.

Since its inception in 2015, the Lung Institute has widened its scope to not only conduct research but also provide respiratory health care. An estimated 20,000 patients have gone through the doors of the Institute to-date and the numbers are ever growing. As thus, space constraints have greatly affected the potential to deliver quality health care hence the need for this expansion project.

The Lung Institute Home Building project is valued at UGX 66.84Bn (US$18.06M) comprising of construction of a 5139sqm building US14.04 M, specialist training US$ 1.43M and equipment US$2.59M.

The six-level facility will house the Centre for Advanced Pulmonary and Intensive Care (CAPIC), Centre for Clinical Investigation (CCI), and Centre for Capacity Enhancement (CCE). Together, these units will deliver advanced respiratory care, cutting-edge research, and specialist training for pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, and respiratory scientists.

This project aligns with Makerere’s infrastructure transformation agenda, Vision 2040, NDP IV and the Government of Uganda 10-fold growth strategy. We are committed to building a safe, sustainable, and modern facility that meets international standards

Once completed, The Lung Institute Home Building will significantly expand Uganda’s capacity to manage complex respiratory diseases such as lung fibrosis, asthma, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. The facility will also advance clinical trials, drug discovery, and health innovations aimed at addressing Africa’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

This milestone underscores Makerere University’s continued leadership in health research, innovation, and infrastructure development that directly contributes to national and regional health priorities and it marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Makerere Lung Institute one that aligns with its 10-year anniversary celebrations and its vision to become a regional center of excellence in lung health, research, and innovation.

 For more information, please contact:
 Communications Office, Makerere University Lung Institute
 Email: zahranamulis@gmail.com
 Phone: +256775750569
 Website: mli.mak.ac.ug