Citizens Petition Health Ministry Over Fort Portal Hospital Crisis

By. Betty Mujungu

Concerned residents of  Fort Portal have raised a red flag over the worsening healthcare conditions at the Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital.  Led by local community leaders and the ”Save Buhinga Hospital” a  local pressure group, have  petitioned both the Permanent Secretary and the Minister of Health, calling for immediate action to address the deteriorating service delivery at this health facility.

Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital serves as a lifeline to  of thousands of people across the region. However, residents say that the hospital is struggling with many issues such as poor management, which have led to avoidable deaths with the most resent victim being  47 year old Moses Kigambo Araali, a renowned artist from the Tooro sub-region.

Kigambo’s death  sparked allegations of negligence by the hospital staff, with reports suggesting he died before receiving the surgery he urgently needed.

Herbert Mugisa one of the lead petitioners says The Hospital Director, Dr. Alex Adaku, is rarely present at the facility. ‘‘There are no effective internal control systems in place, leading to a lack of supervision over staff. This has resulted in widespread absenteeism, extortion, bribery, corruption, arrogance, impunity, and even incidents of some doctors being drunk while on duty’’ he said.

“We can no longer sit back and watch as our loved ones die,” said Mashuhuko Joseph the mayor North division Fort portal city  ” eight doctors have been granted study leave at the same time, leaving the hospital understaffed. Two others have disappeared, yet all continue to receive taxpayer  salaries. We know the hospital can do better, but it needs  support and resources to provide the quality care that the people here deserve. that’s why we will demonstrate on the streets if the ministry doesn’t act” said Joseph.

The citizens’ petition has sparked a wave  of  people with similar stories of negligence  coming out to testify to the negligence and corruption at the facility.

Ms. Sanyu Margaret from Fort Portal City shared her experience from 2023. She fractured her arm and was referred to the hospital, where a doctor demanded Shs 100,000 before treating her.

“I paid because I was in pain. He treated me with a plaster cast and asked me to return in a month. When I returned, he demanded another UGX 100,000. I couldn’t afford further treatment, and my arm is now disabled,” she said, adding that she now relies on her husband for basic tasks.

”we are giving the ministry of health  only  ten days, to come  here in  fort portal and listen to us the community in a public dialogue about the these critical  health services at the facility” said Kasoro patrick one of the petitioners.