On Friday, the Rwandan government officially received the newly renovated and expanded Masaka Hospital, marking the completion of a four-year upgrade project aimed at significantly boosting its capacity.
The expansion works on Masaka Hospital, located in Kicukiro District, are now 100 percent complete, according to the Ministry of Health. The facility will serve as the new premises for the CHUK (University Teaching Hospital of Kigali), which is set to relocate from its current site in Nyarugenge District.
With the upgrade, the hospital’s bed capacity has surged from 127 to 837, and it can now receive over 2,000 patients per day, including both inpatients and outpatients. This makes it the largest general and university teaching hospital in Rwanda far exceeding the current CHUK premises, which have around 400 beds, and the old Masaka Hospital, which had fewer than 100.
Eight Key Facts About the Project
- Capacity
The new hospital will have 837 beds and accommodate up to 2,000 patients daily. Spread across more than 10 building blocks on 8.2 hectares, it will be Rwanda’s biggest general and university teaching hospital. - Construction Budget
The renovation and expansion of Masaka Hospital are funded by the Chinese government. While officials have not disclosed the final budget, reports from August 2019 estimated the project at $100 million. Given post-pandemic and war-related material price hikes, actual costs may be significantly higher. - Additional Services
Beyond inpatient, outpatient, emergency, pediatric, and infectious disease care, the new facility will include an air compressor room, oxygen generator station, radiology department, blood bank, laboratory, and central sterile supply department—services not previously available at the old CHUK. - Relocation Timeline
Construction began two months ago and is scheduled for completion in 2025. Once finished, services will be transferred from the old CHUK premises to the new Masaka site. - Reason for Relocation
The original CHUK facility, built in 1918 and operational as a health center since 1928, became a referral hospital in 1994. It was deemed too old, in need of deep renovation, and poorly situated within a dense urban neighborhood, prompting the 2018 decision to relocate. - Status
The new CHUK will function as both a referral and teaching hospital, with certain blocks dedicated to research activities. - Future of Masaka Hospital’s Current Premises
The existing Masaka Hospital grounds will be integrated into the new CHUK. Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana has stated that the government will build a new district hospital for Kicukiro, though detailed plans have not yet been announced. - Use of CHUK’s Old Location
Once CHUK vacates its current site in Kigali’s central business district, the land will be repurposed. City planners have yet to disclose future development plans for the prime area.
