Ugandan Hospital Expands Fistula Ward with Support from California Nonprofit

Lira Regional Referral Hospital in northern Uganda is significantly expanding its capacity to treat obstetric fistula, a severe childbirth injury, thanks to a $200,000 contribution from The Musa Project, a nonprofit organization based in Encinitas, California. The expansion, nearing completion as of February 28, 2026, will increase inpatient capacity from 12 beds to 45 beds, dramatically improving access to specialized surgical care for women in the region.

Addressing a Critical Need

Obstetric fistula, a hole between the birth canal and rectum or bladder, is often caused by prolonged obstructed labor without access to timely medical intervention. It leaves women with incontinence, chronic infections, and social stigma. The Lira region, which serves communities impacted by refugees from South Sudan, faces a particularly high demand for fistula repair services due to strained medical infrastructure [Daily Express].

Project Details and Timeline

The expanded 45-bed ward will serve both local Ugandan women and displaced women who often lack access to advanced care. The Musa Project, founded in 2025, partners with Ugandan surgeon Associate Professor Musa Kayondo to strengthen hospital infrastructure and expand surgical care through locally led training and long-term systems development. Patients are scheduled to begin receiving care in the expanded ward on March 7, 2026, with an official public opening ceremony planned by the Lira Ministry of Health at a later date [National News Express].

Surgical Capacity and Training

In 2025, the Ugandan surgical team supported by The Musa Project performed 599 complex childbirth injury surgeries, along with over 8,800 additional obstetric and gynecologic procedures [North Coast Current]. The expansion aims to treat more complex cases while building a skilled workforce for the future. Currently, one gynecologist from Lira Regional Referral Hospital is undertaking a fellowship program in urogynecology and female pelvic floor reconstructive surgery.

Future Expansion Plans

With the Lira expansion nearing completion, The Musa Project has launched a $750,000 capital campaign to expand its headquarters at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in western Uganda. This larger project will focus on scaling long-term surgical training capacity nationwide, increasing fellowship training capacity for new Ugandan urogynecologists, and expanding ward capacity to 80 beds [Kamwokya Times].

A Cost-Effective Investment

Hal Tilbury, treasurer of The Musa Project, noted that a hospital expansion of this scale would cost several million dollars in the United States, but can be completed for a fraction of that amount in Uganda, creating significant surgical capacity gains while strengthening medical training infrastructure [North Coast Current].

For more information or to support the campaign, visit musa-project.org.