Day

By Twesigye Aggrey
MBARARA

Inadequate service delivery, limited space among other complaints which have for long been raised at the Uganda’s biggest government facility, Mbarara Referral Hospital could soon become history.
This as government continue to assure the public that the hospital will soon be upgraded and become a national referral hospital.

Dr Henry Mwebesa, the Director General of Health services at the ministry of Health is the latest person to add his voice on the need to upgrade the facility which has been in the news for performing high risk surgeries among other specialized services amidst tough hardships.

Dr Mwebesa made the revelations during a joint assessment of the facility by the university council led by Dr Warren Namara who doubles as the head of statehouse monitoring unit boss and Dr Celestine Barigye the Mbarara Referral Hospital boss.

According to Dr Mwebesa, plans to make Mbarara Referral Hospital a national referral hospital started a few years back when the president open the complex building that houses most of the operating theaters.

Now, he was quoted to have said that it would take about few years for government to put up storied buildings and demolish old structures.

Dr Celestine Barigye, the Mbarara Referral Hospital boss said that the hospital apparently has about 40 specialized services that can’t be found in other hospitals of the same caliber.

The move to declare Mbarara Referral Hospital a national referral hospital according to Dr Barigye will see it’s budget increased to enable them run the services smoothly.

Dr Gad Ruzaaza, a renown medical researcher at Mbarara University of Science and technology who’s part of the assessment team described Dr Barigye as a transformational leader adding that alot has changed through his leadership.

He was speaking with reference to the new infectious diseases treatment center that was put during COVID-19 pandemic adding that its a decent facility that can’t be found in most public and private treatment centers.

Halson Kagure, the Mbarara Referral Hospital Public Relations Officer said that top government officials including Dr Diana Atwine have made ground visits to assess the progress of the hospital.

Kagure said that apparently the hospital is equipped with two laboratories with the latest one being Histopathology and Research Laboratories recently commissioned by the PS Ministry of Health Dr Diana & USAID Mission Director Mr Richard Nelson to boost diagnostic services in the country.

Dr Warren Namara, the MUST chair council who doubles as SHMU boss admitted to the fact that Mbarara Referral Hospital has gone through vigorous transformations though hampered by limited space.
As a solution, he pledged to lobby for the acquisition of more land with the support of both hospital & university members.

Sources reveal that initially, Mbarara Referral Hospital possessed enough land that was encroached by neighbors.

For instance, another source that declined to be quoted said that it’s a shame to see that Mbarara Referral Hospital gave birth to Mbarara University of Science and technology that has since experienced exponential growth leaving the hospital constant.

In response Dr Namara said that some faculties of Mbarara university can be moved to Kihumuro campus to pave way to hospital expansion.

Mbarara Referral Hospital serves the catchment area of 13 districts but it’s unique location has seen it handle referrals from all refugee resettlement camps, other Referral Hospitals in the region, Tanzania, DRC, Rwanda and Burundi.

The hospital sees over 5m patients that end up scrambling for little resources planned for a smaller population but if made a national referral, health analysts believe it will have solved alot of complaints.

By Innocent Atuganyira

KAGADI:

Residents of Ikuma cell in Kagadi town council Kagadi district were Thursday left in fear after an unidentified lifeless body was dumped at their trading centre.

It’s reported that the unidentified man’s body was dumped at around 5am in front of Banass clinic.

According to Nyangoma, the owner of the clinic, she saw the lifeless body at around 6 am when she woke up to ease herself.

The body had deep cuts on the head, face, neck, and chest, an indication that the deceased could have been killed from somewhere else before the body was brought and dumped in the area.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson, says that they have commenced investigations to identify the deceased and the motive of the killing. He has called on any family with a missing relative to cross-check with the police.

By Innocent Atuganyira

BUNYORO:

According to the report tabled before cabinet by the ministry of agriculture on the hunger situation in Uganda, Bunyoro, Ankole, Kigezi sub regions have not been hit by famine outbreak in the country.

They were ranked 6th position at 4.2%. Other regions are Rwenzori 5th at 6.3% while Buganda is 4th at 17.7%.

Lango sub-region has emerged as the third most hunger affected region in Uganda.

The report further ranks Karamoja sub region as the most affected by hunger, standing at 41%, Teso comes 2nd at 21.4%, while Acholi, Lango and West Nile are in 3rd position at 19.4%.

Chris Baryomunsi the minister of information and national guidance attributed hunger being experienced in the country as well as the high commodity prices to climate change, effects of coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war which has affected the prices of fertilizers.

Baryomunsi said the cabinet has entered into an agreement with some large scale farmers to produce enough food to feed Ugandans.

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’Uganda prisons service, UPDF, veterans, NARO among other institutions have also been asked to grow more food to aid the fight against hunger,’’ he said.

According to Rt. Hon. Andrew Byakutanga the Prime Minister of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, they haven’t achieved their target since they want the people of Bunyoro to have enough food and surplus for income.

‘’We haven’t achieved our target, we want our people to have enough food and have a surplus for income to boost the household income,’’ he said.

The premier also asserted that the Kingdom is implementing a program dubbed ‘’Enka Ekwesimisa’’ literally meaning a family with all the necessities which is aiming at improving the food security and livelihood of all families in the Kingdom.

He also asked people in Bunyoro to grow more crops and kick hunger out of their homes.

While in Masindi recently, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja the Prime of Uganda asked the people of Bunyoro to desist from growing sugarcane if they have less land.

‘’If you don’t have enough land don’t grow sugarcane rather embrace growing fast growing crops which will earn you a living,’’ she asked.