UPDF gets state of the art lab

Maj Gen Dr. Ambrose Musinguzi from the Joint Staff Health Services expressed gratitude towards President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his support in funding the project. He noted that the laboratory aligns with the President’s vision of modernizing the military and bolstering medical research capabilities within the armed forces.

Dr. Allan Muruta, Commissioner of Epidemiology and Surveillance from the Ministry of Health, also lauded the collaborative efforts between the UPDF and the Ministry of Health. He assured ongoing support in healthcare delivery and emphasized the global health implications of this initiative.

The newly established Rear Public Health Laboratory is equipped with advanced molecular and immunological platforms to process samples from more than twenty sentinel sites across Uganda, as well as from areas where UPDF troops are deployed internationally, such as Somalia, Equatorial Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This laboratory is part of a broader network designed to monitor and respond to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, including highly contagious viruses like Ebola, Marburg, yellow fever, Chikungunya, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, and dengue. Given the nature of military operations, troops are frequently exposed to potential biohazards. This facility will play a crucial role in rapidly identifying and responding to health threats, thereby ensuring the safety and readiness of the UPDF personnel in their missions both domestically and abroad