A Chinese medical team in Uganda donated essential medicines and advanced medical equipment to the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital (Naguru) in Kampala, marking a handover ceremony that further strengthens decades of bilateral cooperation in public health. The ceremony was led by Tang Min, head of the 25th Chinese medical team in Uganda, with senior representatives from the Chinese Embassy present.
The donated items include a high-pressure autoclave, a vital-signs monitor, a carbon dioxide cell incubator, and a range of essential pharmaceuticals – tools that will bolster the hospital’s laboratory diagnostics and emergency treatment capacity. Tang emphasised that the outfitted equipment not only reflects China’s long-term commitment to Uganda’s healthcare, but also symbolises a “deep friendship” grounded in mutual support.
On behalf of the hospital, Irene Nayiga, Executive Director of the Friendship Hospital, expressed gratitude for the timely donation, noting its direct benefit to Ugandan patients and the surrounding community. She also praised the Chinese medical team for the ongoing exchange of skills and medical knowledge with their Ugandan peers.
China’s medical involvement in Uganda dates back more than four decades. The Friendship Hospital itself was built with Chinese support and handed over in 2012; it has grown into a crucial health facility in Kampala.
Over the years, Chinese medical teams have conducted regular outreach efforts. In June 2025, for instance, embassy officials and medical personnel held a free community-health clinic in Semuto, delivering equipment and medicines to local health centres.
This medical donation is part of a broader, multi-faceted China-Uganda partnership. On the infrastructure front, China financed and built the Karuma Hydropower Project, a massive $1.7 billion plant that has added 600 MW to Uganda’s electricity capacity. At the same time, Chinese firms are engaging in trade and development in areas such as agriculture, manufacturing, and urban infrastructure.
This donation is more than a gesture, it is a tangible investment in Uganda’s healthcare resilience. By equipping a key hospital with advanced diagnostic and treatment tools, China is helping Uganda build capacity from the ground up. For patients, that means faster diagnoses, better care, and more lives saved.
At a strategic level, this deepens a people-to-people bond that supports shared development goals. As China continues to mobilise medical teams and resources across Uganda, the partnership shows how health cooperation can drive broader mutual growth, strengthening not just hospitals, but also trust, capacity, and long-term development between the two nations.
