MP Questions Status of Planned Military Hospital in Brikama

By Fatou Krubally

The proposed site for a military hospital at the Corporal Lamin Bojang Firing Range in Brikama Jamisa is still awaiting formal demarcation and documentation, Defence Minister Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof told the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Joof said the government had submitted a request to the ministry responsible for lands to facilitate the demarcation of the site, but could not provide a specific timeframe for completion of the exercise.

He was responding to Question 194/2026 from Brikama North National Assembly Member Alhagie S. Darbo, who sought an update on the status of the land and government’s plans for constructing a military hospital at the site.

The minister said securing legal ownership and title to defence lands was important to the long-term operations and welfare of the Gambia Armed Forces.

He said the demarcation and regularization of the Brikama Jamisa site were being pursued in consultation with the relevant authorities to establish clear boundaries and secure the land for its intended purpose.

However, when asked when the demarcation request was submitted, Joof said he would need to refer back to the relevant records to provide the exact date.

Darbo subsequently pressed the minister for a timeframe, noting that the matter had been raised for more than four years and that previous responses had similarly referred to engagement with the land authorities.

Joof maintained that the latest information available to him was that a request had been submitted to the ministry responsible for demarcation, adding that he could provide further details after referring back to the records.

The minister also disclosed that he had adopted a broader approach to securing military lands by seeking their demarcation, registration and regularization across the country rather than addressing them individually.

On the proposed hospital, Joof said the government’s immediate priority was to secure and regularise the site while technical planning, statutory approvals and resource mobilization continued.

He said the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure had already been engaged in developing plans for the facility, including its proposed design and capacity.

However, Joof confirmed that the Ministry of Health had not yet been engaged on the project.

He said the Defence Ministry had instead begun discussions with development partners and other friendly countries on possible funding, noting that the proposed hospital would be a major undertaking.

For now, the proposed facility remains dependent on the completion of the land demarcation and documentation process, with the government yet to provide a definite timeline for its completion.