The Uganda Ministry of Health released the 2024/2025 national health facility performance rankings this week. The rankings assess the best and worst-performing hospitals, districts, and sub-regions in Uganda. These results were presented in the Annual Health Sub-Programme Performance Report during the 31st Joint Review Mission on Tuesday. The findings highlight significant disparities in service delivery between government and private not-for-profit hospitals.
Mbale Regional Referral Hospital topped the rankings with a score of 67 percent, followed by Mengo Hospital at 55 percent. St Mary’s Hospital Lacor, St Francis Nsambya Hospital, and Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital each scored 41 percent. Masaka Regional Referral Hospital came in at 40 percent, while Kayunga and Mbarara Referral Hospitals scored 38 percent each. Hoima scored 37 percent, and Lira had 36 percent. Entebbe, Lubaga, and Mubende hospitals each scored 35 percent, while Arua scored the lowest at 34 percent.
Gulu and Jinja regional referral hospitals both scored 33 percent, while Kabale scored 32 percent. Soroti came in at 31 percent, and Moroto at 28 percent. Yumbe Regional Referral Hospital was the worst performer with 27 percent.
The rankings were based on the Ministry’s Annual Performance Grant (APG) and Delivery Readiness Grant (ARG) scores, which assess the volume of health services provided and the facilities’ readiness in staffing, equipment, medicines, and infrastructure.
Local Government Rankings
Kiruhura emerged as the top-performing district with 92.3 percent, followed by Bundibugyo at 89.4 percent. Mbale ranked third with 89 percent. Lira City ranked fourth at 88.7 percent, followed by Amolatar at 87.1 percent. Other top performers included Bududa (85.4 percent), Bunyangabu, Jinja City, Kwania, and Ibanda, with scores between 85.3 percent and 84.8 percent.
Arua District ranked lowest at 54.3 percent, while Soroti (57.8 percent), Butebo (58.8 percent), and Hoima (60.2 percent) followed. Other low-performing districts included Bukomansimbi, Ngora, Buvuma, Kisoro, Karenga, and Bugweri, all scoring between 63.2 percent and 64.1 percent.
Sub-Region Rankings
In terms of sub-regions, Lango topped the rankings, followed by Bugisu, Acholi, West Nile, and Kigezi. Karamoja ranked sixth, while Tooro, Ankole, Bukedi, and Kampala ranked 10th. South Buganda and North Buganda ranked among the worst sub-regions.
Reasons Behind Poor Performance
The report identified human resource shortages, inefficiencies, and transparency issues as major factors contributing to poor performance in certain regions. Dr. Diana Atwiine, the Ministry of Health’s permanent secretary, urged stakeholders to address these challenges. She emphasized the need for better training, improved staff welfare, and mentorship to enhance efficiency in service delivery.
Health Centers and Private Facilities
The performance of Health Centre IVs (HC IVs) was also assessed. Kisenyi Health Centre IV in Kampala emerged as the best-performing HC IV, with a score of 74 percent. Bujubuli HC IV in Kyegegwa scored 68 percent, while Aboke HC IV in Kole District earned 65 percent. Other high performers included Panyadoli HC IV (64 percent) and Budaka HC IV (61 percent).
However, private facilities showed concerning results. Frost Hospital in Wakiso scored only 10 percent, followed by Kachumbala HC IV in Bukedea at 8 percent, and Pearl Medical Centre in Kampala at 6 percent. The lowest-rated government facility was Naguru Police HC IV in Kampala, with only 1 percent, while Astu HC IV in Katakwi scored 0 percent.
The Way Forward
Dr. Atwiine presented the Health Sector Strategic Plan and the Uganda Health Compact, both of which will guide investments towards universal health coverage. These documents will be accessible online to help with district planning. Dr. Atwiine also stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in health facility operations.
Mr. Joshua Musaasizi, the assistant commissioner for private sector coordination, introduced the Health Partners Portal, a new platform for tracking health organizations. The portal will help improve coordination and transparency, making it easier to track the performance of health partners.
The health facility performance rankings for Uganda in the 2024/2025 financial year reveal notable disparities in healthcare delivery. While some regions and facilities are excelling, others are struggling due to workforce shortages and inefficiencies. As the Ministry of Health continues to focus on improving transparency and addressing systemic challenges, it is crucial for all stakeholders to align efforts and ensure better service delivery for all Ugandans.
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