The state-owned hospital in Uganda is called Mulago , built in Kampala 1962, with around 1500 beds. Once it had an excellent medical school, with visitors from around the world to learn about tropical diseases. During the Amin administration, the hospital deteriorated along with the rest of the country's infrastructure. Now it still serves an important role, but is very badly maintained.

There are many NGOs operating charitable hospitals now around the country, especially in rural areas, where the national health budget is rarely to be found.

Dr. Ian Clarke, a missionary from Northern Ireland, came out in 1986 along with his family, and built Kiwoko hospital in Lwero , now a 200 bed charitable hospital. His book, The man with the key is gone, is an account of this time. He has now become a resident of Uganda and is now opening his own 200 bed private hospital, International Hospital Kampala, which is the first ISO certified hospital in the country.