History - Uganda Heart Institute

Our History

EVERYTHING BEGAN AS A SIMPLE CARDIAC CLINIC

UHI as you know it today, started as a simple cardiac clinic at Mulago Hospital in 1958. This journey
began when we transitioned from a clinic to a fully-fledged facility i.e Uganda Heart Institute (UHI).

1956

The current Cardiac services started as a Cardiac Clinic in mulago Hospital in 1956, by Prof. Somers Crusher, in the Department of Medicine. The first functional cardiac laboratory was established in 1958. When the New Mulago Hospital was constructed in 1960, the Queen of Holland donated a new Cardiac Laboratory that was installed in the Department of Internal Medicine.

1969

By 1969, open heart surgery was being performed in Mulago Hospital, using the method of core cooling. Unfortunately all these developments were lost in the seventies following the political crisis which closed off all the trainees abroad, and served all relocated back to their countries.

1969

1988

In a meeting held in Mulago in 1988, it was resolved that the Heart Institute be established. The meeting composed of Mulago Hospital, Ministry of Health, Makerere University and Uganda Heart Foundation (a non-government Organization composed of mainly Rotarians and other well-wishes). The entities present at this meeting became the founders of the founder of the Uganda Heart Institute. Due to this decision, cardiac services were revived and on 4th April 1096 a first closed Heart Surgery (External Pacemaker implantation) was performed and eventually Open Heart Surgery was also done on 27th December 2007, 50 years after the establishment of the cardiac clinic and 40 year after the initial open heart sugery in Uganda.

2001

In 2001 the Uganda Heart Institute was legally established as a Company limited by guarantee of its founding Bodies namely, Mulago Hospital, Ministry of Health, Makerere University and Uganda Heart Foundation. In UHI therefore commenced operating as a semi-autonomous Unit under Mulago Hospital. The purpose of the registering UHI as a limited Company was to fasten the growth and development of the Institute, by enabling it to solicit for funds and manage its resources at source.

2001

2007

The first Open Heart Surgery case done in October 2007

2013

The current Cardiac services started as a Cardiac Clinic in Mulago Hospital in 1956, by Prof Somers Crusher, in the Department of Medicine. The first functional cardiac laboratory was established in 1958. When the New Mulago Hospital was constructed in 1960, the Queen of Holland donated a new Cardiac Laboratory that was installed in the Department of Internal Medicine.

2013

Our Background

Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) was established as an autonomous body by an Act of Parliament (The Uganda Heart Institute ACT, 2016). The Institute is now a super specialized leading provider of cardiovascular services and the only National Referral Facility for heart diseases in Uganda. Currently, UHI, using a modest investment and an enabling legal framework has trained cardiac super specialists and installed a state of the Art Cardiac catheterization laboratory and operating theatre which have enabled them to conduct ground breaking heart surgeries and interventions of World-Class. <br/>Uganda Heart Institute handles over 20,000 patients annually. The Institute started carrying out Open Heart Surgery in 2007 and to-date; over 7000 heart operations have been performed. This in effect means the Uganda Heart Institute can comprehensively handle over 95% of the adult cases and 85% of the cases among children in Uganda. This is in line with the NDP2 strategy of reducing referrals abroad to less than 5%.

In order to improve access to heart care, UHI is developing capacity to operationalize Regional centers in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Regional Referral Hospitals. The Institute is partnering with various Stakeholders including Civil society, to promote health through advocating for a healthy lifestyle.

The preventive programs are being addressed through a multi- sectoral approach with the Ministry of Health and other local and international partners.

What Uganda Heart Institute needs now is more working space and lager operational budgets to enable it fulfill its mandate.