Sonic Kworo Hospital in Agago, Northern Uganda
The Beginning of a New Hospital
In Uganda, 6000 women die every year due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. Many women are still giving birth at home, without trained maternal health professionals. Small health clinics can support a limited number of women, and if there are any complications during a labour, the woman has to be referred to a hospital that involves a couple days of travel. Unfortunately this can be too expensive or too late for many families. In Northern Uganda, where access to safe healthcare is extremely limited, the maternal mortality rate is twice the national average.
In April 2022, Barbara May Foundation formed a partnership with Te-Kworo Foundation in Northern Uganda and Sonic Healthcare Foundation to build our fifth supported maternity hospital in Africa, and our first in Uganda. It will be located on 20 acres beside a major road and serve more than 500,000 people in Pader and Agago Districts.
The Sonic Kworo Hospital, costing an estimated $1.7 million for construction and fit-out, was designed as a pro-bono project by Australian architects, NBRS. When completed in 2026, women and babies will have access to a blood bank, birthing suite, specialised newborn baby unit, operating theatre and pathology facility. Dr Browning will provide ongoing oversight and training to ensure the high quality of the new facilities. We expect many lives to be saved when women and babies can be treated locally instead of being transferred to other hospitals.
The hospital will provide support for a mobile clinic operating in remote villages across four large districts of Northern Uganda, as well as nursing and midwifery training for girls coming through Te-Kworo’s scholarship program.
This new 42-bed hospital will bring hope and dignity through:
- 2,000 safe births annually
- 20+ fistula repairs annually
- Antenatal and postnatal clinics and family planning services
- Community outreach and education
- Clinical skills training
Milestones
- January 2026: Recruitment process has begun for key staff roles.
- October 2025: Construction is almost complete.
- June 2025: A shipment with donated high-quality medical equipment and furniture has arrived on site.
- September 2023: Sonic Healthcare Foundation invests in safe births in northern Uganda Read more
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