It is the referral hospital for the districts of Busia, Budaka, Kibuku, Kapchorwa, Bukwa, Butaleja, Manafwa, Mbale, Pallisa, Sironko and Tororo.

[1] Mbale Hospital is located on Pallisa Road, in the central business district of the city of Mbale, approximately 102 kilometres (63 mi), by road, southeast of Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, in the city of Soroti.

[3] Mbale Regional Referral Hospital is located approximately 227 kilometres (141 mi), by road, northeast of Mulago National Referral Hospital, in Kampala, Uganda's capital city.

[4] The coordinates of Mbale Regional Referral Hospital are: 01°04'36.0"N, 34°10'35.0"E (Latitude:1.076667; Longitude:34.176389).

It is also designated as one of the three public clinical paramedical teaching hospitals and as one of the fifteen "Internship Hospitals" in Uganda, where graduates of Ugandan medical schools can serve a one-year internship under the supervision of qualified specialists and consultants.