Day

Story by Byamukama Libino

KABALE

Expectant Mothers at Maziba Health center IV Ndorwa East constituency Kabale District have raised a red flag on the harassment from the Health workers at the facility.

The red flag comes after a mother lost her child after giving birth due to the  negligence of  the health workers.

Tibakyirana Siliva and his wife Peace Tibakyirana, residents of Kagweru in Maziba Sub County had gone for antenatal care on Saturday 16^th July.

In the night of 24^th Sunday, the health workers neglected her as she was in labour pains and on Monday around 2pm, she managed to deliver from the maternity ward being helped by  fellow expectant mothers in the ward.

However after delivering, a child never cried, a thing which prompted the Medical interns (in blue uniform) to put the child on oxygen.

In the evening around 7pm, the baby’s conditions deteriorated before they were given a referral to Kabale regional referral hospital where she died moments later.

Mr Tibakyirana attributed the cause of death to the nurses who had rejected her wife for the whole night attending those who had offered money before them.

Mrs. Peace Tibakyirana said that the nurses had vacated the facility leaving behind medical interns who kept watching her only at the time she was giving birth.

she added that the nurses had  told her that she was not going to get any service before they see on her husband yet she was already in Labour pains.(the child had already brought the head)

She further said that her colleagues have been delivering in the maternity ward without the help of the health workers the one week she had spent on the facility.

The expectant mothers who never wanted their  Names to be revealed fearing embarrassment from the rude health worker said that calling the nurses without money it’s like someone writing on water.

They accused health workers only identified as Phionah and Betty for having continuously harassed them and going for cards (MATATU) mostly at the time of delivery leaving them with medical interns

They further pinned them for asking bribes before offering any service saying that when you call them without money, they tell you openly that they are busy.

They also said that it’s unfortunate that you can’t tell the nurses who are on duty and who are not.

The expectant mothers said that they were shocked when a heartless nurse only identified as Judith who was off duty, but busy sunbathing outside the ward telling them that it was None of her business and that they should look for a nurse who was on duty.

‘’ she told us to look for a nurse who was on duty and that we should let her watch her movie on a smart phone” expectant mothers said.

Kobusingye Patience and Dora Asiimwe from Maziba Sub County said that they were discharged before their children got vaccinated with polio vaccines.

Kobusigye added that out of the 5 children she has, she had never been discharged from the hospital before she received the polio vaccine.

She added that last week the nurses sold her mama kits at 15000 cash.

Speaking to our reporter on a phone call, the Maziba Health Center IV incharge Dr Ronard Tumwesigye admitted that the health workers always play the cards (Matatu) at the facility around 5-6PM after their duty..

Ronard said that he spent the whole day in supervision and as soon as he arrived, he gave them a referral using the facility double cabin carter lunch, the Health workers at the facility go for Matatu and the whole facility is left with Medical  interns who have nothing much  to do with expectant mothers.

Witnesses discovered by our reporter, expectant mothers deliver in maternity wards with the help of the patients in the ward.

Expectant mothers fear talking on the rude health workers and sources have it that Health workers only identified as Christine, Betty and Phionah are the leading Matatu Players at the facility.

By Innocent Atuganyira

BULIISA:

One person is in police custody over allegations of vandalizing electricity infrastructure in Buliisa district.

Isayiga Matovu, the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited -UEDCL manager Biiso Buliisa office says the suspect he declined to name was arrested in the area in the company’s ongoing operations against the vandalism of its infrastructure.

Matovu adds acts of vandalizing electric poles, wires, transformers among other infrastructure are rampant in Buliisa district in areas such as Biiso, Butiaba, Kabolwa and some parts of Hoima and Masindi districts.

He adds that the vice has greatly affected their work causing disruptions in power distribution and also power frequent outage in some areas.

The manager advised the locals to desist from the vice and urged them to cooperate with the relevant people in order to arrest the culprits.

He says this will enable their areas to have reliable electricity supply that will spur development there.

By Twesigye Aggrey

BUSHENYI

The Bushenyi district LC5 Boss Jaffari Bassajabalaba has called on government to include the press covering health and other  related issues in their Budget.

By Our reporter

NTUNGAMO

The Ntungamo district Lc5 Boss Samuel Rwakigoba Mucunguzi has summoned his Secretary for Finance Naboth Mpirirwe to his office to explain extortion allegations against him

A letter dated 25^th July 2022 from the office of the district chairman indicates that Mpirirwe extorted shillings 3 million from Barungi Anna a daughter to Aggripina Kebirungi  a resident of Rubare town under the pretext of getting her a job

Mucunguzi accused Mpiriirwe of extorting the money to reportedly facilitate the recruitment of Barungi as an assistant Nursing officer  in the last recruitment exercise, an act that contravenes the leadership code act 2002

Mucunguzi has ordered Mpiriirwe to report to his office Tomorrow  Wednesday  for further discussions to avoid embarrassment

By Innocent Atuganyira

MASINDI:

In an effort to fight and reduce accidents in the country, drivers have been urged to go for refresher courses as a way to fight the increasing accidents.

In an interview with our reporter, Mr. Charles Ndozereho the Director Life Safe Driving School Masindi said that lack of refresher courses for the drivers has also been attributed to the increased accidents in Uganda.

According to Ndozereho, most drivers don’t undergo refresher courses, something he said is attributing to increased cases of accidents in the country.

‘’Lack of discipline, low pay, family or relationship misunderstanding, and lack of servicing vehicles has greatly contributed to accidents in Uganda,’’ he says.

The director notes that there is a need for the government to summon all drivers or transport companies and find solutions to the increasing accidents in the country.

In addition, Ndozereho asked the government to support driving schools in the country since some drivers have not undergone training adding that such drivers lack road and office discipline, something he said is increasing accidents in the country.

‘’Most drivers don’t know the importance of traffic police on the road, and this is due to lack of training which puts the lives of travellers at risk, the government needs to address such issues through refresher courses,’’ he asserted.

ASP Julius Allan Hakiza, the Albertine Region police spokesperson recently told our reporter that recklessness has been cited in most accidents registered in the Albertine region.

Hakiza said that most road users and drivers do not pay attention to the road signs, ignore traffic lights hence over speeding something he said has accelerated accidents in the region.

‘’Most pedestrians and drivers don’t pay attention to the road signs and traffic lights which is the root cause of many accidents in the region,’’ he explained.

According to Hakiza, pedestrians moving into the wrong lane, crossing the road without looking at different road sides have further contributed to road accidents.

‘’This kind of conduct among both drivers and pedestrians are putting people’s lives in danger’’ he asserted.

The police officer said that the owners of vehicles and motorcycles should monitor their riders or drivers to ensure accidents are reduced in the region.

‘’The owners of vehicles and motorcycles should also take the responsibility of monitoring their drivers while our traffic officers remain committed on the roads to regulate movements of drivers and vehicles in bad mechanical conditions,’’Hakiza noted.

Rogers Kanti, a driver, told our reporter that there is a lack of driving behaviour analysis among drivers in the region.

‘’Driving behaviour analysis is an important part of research on traffic safety, which is a reflection of how the driver steers the vehicle including speed and attitude control,’’ he explained.

Careless driving Uganda is a civil traffic violation and is charged when people behind the wheel heedlessly ignore the road rules.

Rogers Musinguzi, a driver along Masindi – Hoima road, told our reporter that careless driving on the road is majorly caused by financial stress between drivers and pedestrians.

‘’Loan, school or domestic and relationship stress have also resulted in increasing accidents in the region. These issues need to be sorted before sitting on the steering,’’ he said.

He also asked drivers to be aware of the surroundings, follow traffic laws, and drive within the speed limit adding it’s the major role for drivers and if embraced, it can reduce accidents on the road.

According to Sulaiman Byabazaire, most drivers get distracted on mobile phones while driving thus failing to balance their emotions.

‘’Drivers need to undergo a lot of traffic psychology to help them install a desired behaviour while driving,’’ the pedestrian suggested.