Munini District Hospital in Nyaruguru District is set to be converted into a regional military hospital and upgraded to a level two teaching facility, in a move aimed at strengthening specialised healthcare services in Rwanda’s Southern Province.
The development was confirmed by Lt Col (Rtd) Dr Valens Murengezi, the hospital’s director, who said the institution will be placed under the Ministry of Defence to enhance its capacity and operational efficiency.
Under the planned transition, the hospital will shift from district status to a secondary-level teaching hospital and will be renamed Munini Regional Military Hospital. The change is expected to expand both service delivery and medical training functions.
“It will become a military hospital. The difference is that military institutions operate with greater speed and efficiency, enabling them to serve more people effectively,” Dr Murengezi said.
He disclosed that a formal agreement has already been signed between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Defence, although implementation has not yet commenced. The transition was initially scheduled to take effect after the 2025/2026 budget revision in December 2025, and staff are currently awaiting the rollout of the new structure.
Founded in 2008, Munini Hospital underwent major renovation in 2022 at a cost of nearly Rwf 9 million. The upgraded facility now has the capacity to admit more than 170 inpatients.
Hospital management says service delivery has significantly improved since the refurbishment, with patients reporting better care and improved infrastructure.
Once the conversion is complete, the hospital is expected to receive specialist support from the Rwanda Military Hospital in Kanombe, a move anticipated to boost advanced treatment services and clinical training.
The upgrade is projected to improve access to specialised healthcare for residents of Nyaruguru and neighbouring districts, while reinforcing Rwanda’s military health system and medical education network.
