[2] The hospital is on Mulago Hill in the northern part of the city of Kampala, immediately west of the Makerere University College of Health Sciences.

The hospital offers services in most medical and surgical subspecialties, in addition to dentistry, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and intensive care.

After the rescue of the hostages from the airport terminal during Operation Entebbe on 4 July 1976, she was taken from her hospital bed and was murdered on Idi Amin's orders.

[8][9] Mulago Hospital Complex is a term used to refer to the hospitals on Mulago Hill and the adjacent and affiliated medical institutions that serve as the teaching entity for Makerere University College of Health Science.

[1][12][13] In October 2014, major renovations and rehabilitation works commenced at the hospital, the purpose of which was to bring about structural and performance improvements.

[15][12][13][16] In May 2019, the Cabinet of Uganda authorized the release of USh35.5 billion (US$9.5 million) to complete the renovations to the hospital.