Embrace Teamwork and Excellence, Bishop Acur Okodi Urges Lira Hospital Staff

17 June 2026, 4:52 pm

By Frank Oyugi

LIRA — Bishop Emeritus of West Lango Diocese, Rt. Rev. Alfred Acur Okodi, has called on health workers at Lira Regional Referral Hospital to put teamwork first and raise the bar on service delivery as the facility targets top status in Uganda’s health sector.

Prayer Breakfast Launch

Speaking as chief celebrant at the hospital’s maiden prayer breakfast on Wednesday morning, Bishop Acur, who doubles as LRRH’s Anglican chaplain, praised management and staff for their commitment.

He challenged them to close gaps in efficiency and put patients at the center of care.The breakfast, held in the hospital parking yard under the theme _“Delivering Quality Healthcare through hard work and compassion”_, brought together doctors, nurses, administrators, and religious leaders from across Lango.

“No One Transforms a Hospital Alone” Bishop Okodi told staff that medicine is a calling. “You are God’s agents for restoring health. Use your talents to change patient outcomes,” he said.

“But remember, no single person can transform this hospital. Doctors, nurses, administrators, and religious leaders must pull together.”Rev.

Thomas Obong, General Secretary of Lango Religious Leaders Forum, echoed the call: “Heroes don’t work alone. We must celebrate each other and tackle the task ahead as one.”

Hospital Sets New Targets

Acting Director Dr. Andrew Odur said the prayer breakfast was the idea of top management to thank God for progress and hand over staff to Him ahead of the 2026/27 financial year.

“Lira Regional has existed for over 100 years. We’ve grown in staff numbers, infrastructure, and systems,” Dr. Odur noted. “We’re on course to become one of the best hospitals in the country, but we need a more organized workforce to match Ministry of Health policy.” he noted.

He highlighted key output figures: 300,000+ lab tests annually, 10,000+ surgeries, and 200+ dialysis sessions every month. He also celebrated the ICU’s impact: “Three out of five patients who would have been declared dead are walking home alive from our newly functional ICU.”

Unity for a Bigger Goal

Dr. Odur urged staff and community leaders to keep telling the public that LRRH is rising. “Join us on the spiritual side and as community leaders so we position this hospital ahead of others,” he said.

Leaders Present

By 8am, staff were already in high spirits, singing praise songs as clergy arrived. Other leaders present included Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter Clever Ongom, Catholic chaplain; Rev. Silvanus Ogwal, PAG Lira; Sheik Yusuf Balinda, Supreme Kadhi Lango; Prof. Opio Okaka Dokotum; and Pastor Paul Egwar of PAG City Church.

With teamwork and compassion as its compass, Lira Regional Referral Hospital is aiming for a new chapter in Uganda’s public health story