HMCU opened two clinics, the first in the Ndejje area of Kampala and the second, in Kasubi, in 2007 and 2009. The clinics subsequently closed as HMCU concentrated its resources on the March 21, 2013, opening of the Ruth Gaylord Hospital Maganjo as a general hospital, but with a focus on maternal and pediatric care. It was named in honor of Ruth Gaylord, a retired Minnesota music teacher and mother of five, at the suggestion of one of its early benefactors, a retired American priest, the late Rev. Msgr. James Habiger, former executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference. The hospital grew and grew as demand increased for the quality, affordable healthcare being offered. In February 2023, the hospital was renamed Gary Holmes Hospital Maganjo after the benefactor who drove so much of the growth. The hospital now offers a broad array of services including inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care services, in addition to many specialty services. The Ruth Gaylord Institute for Maternal and Pediatric Care will remain foremost among those services. 

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Peter Kiggundu, M.B.A., serves as its CEO. Like Lugemwa, Kiggundu is a St. Thomas alum. Lugemwa, who chairs the HMCU board of directors, says, “We are passionate about providing high-quality, comprehensive and affordable medical services for all who need them.” 

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The hospital maintains current registration and operating licenses with the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council, and is registered at the level of a hospital.

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The hospital is located six miles north of Kampala City Centre along Bombo Road, Maganjo Village, Nabweru Division, Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District. A medical and professional staff of 87 people provides services, including outpatient, inpatient, laboratory, maternity, theater (operating room), dental, ultrasound, ambulance assistance and immunizations. In 2022 it recorded 50,464 patient visits, 9,427 free immunizations, 608 babies delivered, 88 surgeries, 735 dental exams and 4,535 ultrasound scans.

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The hospital was built on what was once four-and-a-half acres of vacant land owned by a Catholic parish. It now consists of six buildings, three of which are used for medical services, one as a chapel and nuns’ residence, another as a cafeteria and the sixth is a small cookhouse where all meals are prepared. In addition, three nine-unit apartment buildings are under construction. Each unit will have two bedrooms. These apartments, constructed with contributions from benefactors, will serve as the hospital’s endowment, the rent from which will replace expensive equipment, fund care for those cannot afford to pay and support pubic health outreach, such as immunizations. The buildings and equipment have been funded by benefactors, most of whom reside in the United States, through the Friends of East Africa Foundation. Please visit their website at www.foeafoundation.org.