Inside new CHUK facility equipped with helicopter landing pad #rwanda #RwOT

Construction work has largely finished, with final touches underway, including cleaning, interior landscaping, and minor corrections. The project is reportedly 99.8% complete.

A key part of the new facility involves installing modern, internationally standard medical equipment, reflecting the hospital's high-level services.

The project is being carried out by the Chinese company Shanghai Construction Group Co. Ltd, at a total cost of approximately 85 billion Rwandan francs (around 580 million yuan).

The hospital will have a capacity of 827 beds, nearly doubling the current CHUK capacity of 400 beds.

Advanced facilities and technology

The new hospital will feature 18 surgical rooms, excluding operating theaters for maternity cases. It will also be equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, including four X-ray machines, two anti-radiation devices, MRI machines, radiology equipment, and other modern medical instruments.

This expansion aligns with Rwanda's vision to develop a world-class healthcare system in Africa and promote medical tourism. It is expected to reduce the number of Rwandans seeking treatment abroad, as advanced services will now be available domestically.

During the National Dialogue held on February 5â€"6, 2026, Rwanda's Minister of State for Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, disclosed that Rwanda successfully performed 83 kidney transplants over the past three years, saving around $800,000. Heart surgeries included 543 pediatric patients and 318 adults.

Construction and design

On-site, workers are completing final corrections identified by the Rwanda Housing Authority. Some employees are also preparing interior landscaping for the hospital. Local Rwandan laborers contributed to the construction, and most of the building materials, including sand, bricks, and stones, were sourced within Rwanda.

The hospital consists of three multi-story buildings, one with five floors and two with four floors. One building will house outpatient services, while another will serve as an inpatient unit. The remaining two buildings, located separately, will accommodate hospitalized patients and include a dedicated medical technology building for advanced treatments.

Each patient room is spacious and includes its own toilet and shower, a feature not common in other hospitals. The hospital is also designed to be environmentally friendly, with natural ventilation and private terraces in each room, allowing patients to enjoy fresh air and sunlight without relying on air conditioning.

Accessible pathways and elevators have been incorporated to accommodate patients with disabilities.

Helicopter landing pad and medical gases

The hospital will include a helicopter landing pad to transport critically ill patients from remote regions. It will also have a specialized room for medical gases, such as oxygen, which can now be generated on-site rather than imported in bulk. Piping systems will deliver these gases directly to patient rooms as needed.

The hospital is equipped with two generators to provide backup power, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply. It also has advanced fire suppression systems capable of targeting specific areas in the event of a fire.

Medical equipment and patient beds are currently being installed. If all goes according to plan, CHUK's relocation to Masaka is expected to begin in April 2026, though the process will be gradual.

The new hospital is located in a dedicated medical zone near IRCAD Africa, which specializes in teaching cancer surgeries and robotic-assisted procedures. There will also be specialized cardiac care units, as well as an infectious disease research and treatment center.