Kisoro hospital ICU capacity expands following support from virunga marathon

By; Gerald Niyirinda

A major boost has been registered in healthcare services at Kisoro Hospital after the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) expanded its capacity from only three patients to seven following support from the Virunga Gorilla Marathon.

The improvement comes after funds raised during the 2025 Virunga Gorilla Marathon were directed towards equipping and upgrading the ICU at the hospital.

The marathon, which started in 2024, was introduced to support healthcare, conservation, tourism, and community development in Kisoro District.

Today, members of the Virunga Marathon team responsible for oxygen machinery, led by Nsabirwa Semu, assembled new ICU beds and delivered curtains, fans, and mosquito nets aimed at improving conditions in the unit.

According to the organizers, the annual marathon attracts runners from Uganda and neighboring countries, with funds collected being used to support critical community projects in Kisoro, particularly healthcare services at the hospital.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Bahane Emmanuel thanked the Virunga Marathon team for what he described as overwhelming support towards strengthening intensive care services.

Dr. Bahane noted that the additional equipment and beds will greatly improve emergency response and patient management at the hospital, which serves residents from Kisoro District and neighboring areas of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

He pledged that the hospital administration would ensure proper maintenance and effective use of the donated equipment to benefit patients and improve healthcare delivery in the region.