Mission

To promote life to the full by providing client centered quality health care to all persons and train health care providers in accordance with the mission of Christ.

Vision

A provider of choice for holistic healthcare services in
Uganda.

Core Values

  • Love

  • Justice,

  • Equity,

  • Shared well-being,

  • Accountability

  • Respect

Historical Background

Holy Family Virika Hospital is a 205-bed capacity, owned by the Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal, located in Fort Portal city. It forms an integral part of the Diocesan Health System. Its affiliation to the diocese empowers this facility to form crucial linkages with lower-level healthcare units assuming the pivotal role of a referral center within the diocese. It is accredited by the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau (UCMB) and Ministry of Health (MoH) to deliver key curative, preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative health services. The hospital serves not only the residents of Fort Portal City but also patients from the neighboring districts of Kasese, Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Kitagwenda, Kagadi, Bunyangabu, among others. Furthermore, the hospital has affiliations with the City Health System, various stakeholders, and the esteemed Virika School of Nursing. The hospital was established as a small dispensary by missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) in 1910 as a pressing health need of the time and later grew gradually in size and scope. After managing it for one year, the White Fathers handed it over to the Missionary Sisters of Africa (White Sisters) who managed it up-to 31 December 1962, but they later grew less in number. Father Joseph Vincent McCauley responded to this decline by contacting the Medical Mission Sisters in Philadelphia, USA seeking their intervention. Fortunately, the Medical Mission Sisters responded positively and run it from 1st Jan 1963 to 1974. In 1968, it was named Virika Hospital and Holy Family Virika Hospital in 2010. The hospital was handed over to the Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal in 1975. The Diocese entrusted the management of the institution to the institute of the Daughters of St Therese of the Child Jesus. The facility faced a severe set-back in February 1994 when a devastating earthquake left 95% of its building damaged. Nevertheless, reconstruction efforts commenced in May 1997 and concluded in February 2002, with the official reopening of the hospital in March 2002. Notably, in 2014 on December 28th, HFVH celebrated a century of unwavering service.

In a trans-formative move towards enhanced governance and oversight, the hospital was formally incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on August 24th,2018. The Registered Trustees of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal assumed the role of subscribers to the Articles and Memorandum of Association, paving the way for the constitution of a Board of Directors. This dynamic shift in governance has fortified the hospital’s commitment to excellence in healthcare delivery. Today, HFVH stands as a living testament to the steadfast dedication and resilience of the community it serves. At the core of its mission is the unwavering dedication to provide quality and accessible healthcare to all.