Six health workers at Bududa District Hospital have been summoned to Bududa Central Police Station to record statements over allegations of negligence and extortion following the death of a mother at the facility, following the death of Sandra Khabuya, a secretary in the Trade and Finance Department of Bududa District Local Government, who was reportedly about four months pregnant.
In a letter dated September 10, 2026, Bududa Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Max Martin Mukula confirmed receipt of the police summons and said he had informed the affected staff members. Those summoned are Dr Charles Mushikoma, Alinga Joyce, Erina Nakusi, Doreen Namono, Ziita Nandutu and Doreen Khakasa.
Khabuya reportedly went to Bududa Hospital after suffering a miscarriage. Her relatives and other sources have alleged that she did not receive timely medical attention, resulting in excessive bleeding and her eventual death.
The allegations have not been independently established. Police investigations and a maternal death audit are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding her death and determine whether there was any professional misconduct.
Mukula said that after receiving reports on Monday of alleged professional negligence involving some hospital staff, he immediately initiated steps to have the matter investigated. He said he wrote to the District Health Officer (DHO), requesting the constitution of a maternal death audit team to establish the circumstances surrounding Khabuya’s death.
Mukula also said he wrote to the Criminal Investigations Department at Bududa Central Police Station, requesting investigations into allegations of criminality, including alleged extortion. Bududa Division Police Commander Barnabas Banyenzaki says police will wait for the summoned health workers to report on Monday as required by the summons, as they proceed with the investigations.
Bududa LC5 chairperson Geoffrey Natubu said he had directed the CAO to keep the affected staff off duty pending investigations. Natubu said he was waiting for the police report, which would guide the district on the next course of action.
“We shall not allow a few people at the hospital to play with the lives of our people,” Natubu said. “If it means taking tough action, we are ready to do so.”
Khabuya’s death comes amid previous complaints and reported deaths at the hospital. In May this year, 31-year-old Jenifer Nasaka, a resident of Bunasaba Central Village, Bumakita Parish, Nalwanza Sub-county in Bududa District, died amid allegations of neglect at Bududa Hospital. It was alleged that Nasaka lacked money reportedly demanded by health workers before being treated.
The exact cause of her death has not been independently established.
Another patient, Aidah Bisikwa, was also reported to have died amid similar allegations of neglect at the facility. The latest death has renewed calls for authorities to investigate complaints concerning the quality and timeliness of emergency care at Bududa Hospital.
The police summons come days after the Bududa District Security Committee, chaired by Resident District Commissioner Juliet Solome Namara, resolved to suspend the hospital administration pending investigations into concerns surrounding maternal deaths at the facility.
The investigations are expected to establish whether negligence, professional misconduct, extortion or other factors contributed to Khabuya’s death-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
