By KT Reporter
Musa Ecweru, one of the longest-serving ministers in President Museveni’s government, has broken his silence and declared Soroti Regional Referral Hospital sick.
Despite the cabinet’s collective responsibility rule that discourages public criticism, Ecweru, who also serves as the State Minister for Works and represents Amuria District in Parliament, expressed frustration over the hospital’s deplorable state.
Ecweru’s remarks were interrupted by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who reminded him of the need to first raise such matters in cabinet. “The truth is that while I’m here I’m not supposed to make … but Soroti regional referral hospital is sick,” said Ecweru, noting that most of his constituents are referred to the hospital located in the heart of Soroti City.
The matter arose during Parliament’s consideration of the National Economy Committee’s report on the upcoming national budget. Legislators expressed concern that the health sector continues to suffer from underfunding, with more unfunded priorities expected than in the previous financial year.
Last year, Parliament was forced to reallocate parts of the national budget to support critical health needs—a move that led to a standoff with the executive and the President declining to assent to the Appropriation Bill, accusing Parliament of budget manipulation. Tayebwa questioned Ecweru’s decision to raise the matter in Parliament, asking whether he had discussed it in cabinet.
Before Ecweru could take his seat, Budadiri West MP Nathan Nandala Mafabi rose on a point of procedure, pressing the minister further on the issue of collapsing health facilities. Mafabi wondered how a hospital that is itself sick can be expected to treat patients.
The debate had earlier been sparked by Soroti West MP Jonathan Ebwalu, who decried the hospital’s condition, saying it only carries the title of a referral hospital.
“Why would we call it a referral hospital when we don’t have even Panadol in the hospital?” Ebwalu asked as State Minister for Health Minister, Anifa Kawoya listened silently.
He painted a grim picture of Soroti Hospital’s state: “Soroti regional referral hospital doesn’t have a medical ward. A ward that was built by whites long ago has collapsed. Soroti hospital doesn’t have an X-ray machine, doesn’t have an anesthetist, and doesn’t have an orthopedic doctor. Mr. Speaker, Soroti hospital doesn’t even have an oxygen plant,” said Ebwalu.
When the Speaker asked what the hospital has, Ebwalu responded: “I can tell you there is nothing. These are the things that are on the ground.”
Ebwalu concluded by suggesting Soroti might be the “sickest” hospital in Uganda. Concerns over ailing health facilities extended beyond Soroti. Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake decried the state of Mityana Hospital.
“There is always money budgeted in these hospitals, generally nationally. But in Mityana hospital, all the calls I get from my voters, the people who go to that hospital, nobody receives drugs.”
His concerns were echoed by Kabura County MP Asiimwe Enos Kinywamachunda, who criticized the chronic underfunding of the health sector. “We have a challenge of spreading too thin and achieving nothing. When you go to our hospitals, getting equipment that can do simple diagnoses is also becoming a problem.”
Kinywamachunda called for fast-tracking health insurance to reduce out-of-pocket payments by Ugandans seeking healthcare-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
