By KT Reporter
The freeze on aid instituted by American President Ronald Trump’s administration is affecting healthcare services in Mukono District.
The Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP), which was established by the U.S. Department of Defense, has laid off its workers, causing a shortage of staff in health facilities in Mukono. MUWRP primarily focused on HIV vaccine development and building vaccine testing capabilities in Uganda.
Elizabeth Namanda, Mukono Chief Administrative Officer, says MUWRP, once a key health partner, had employed 236 health workers, including 32 on permanent contracts.
The suspension in funding has forced the project to reduce the number of staff to 36, with only the permanent employees retained pending a program review.
The impact further extends to other districts, including Kayunga, Buikwe, and Buvuma, where MUWRP has been providing critical healthcare services.
Since 2005, MUWRP has played a pivotal role in HIV care and treatment under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). It has provided screening, treatment, and prophylaxis for major opportunistic infections, as well as rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and adherence support.
The program has also integrated tuberculosis (TB) services and cervical cancer screening for female patients at ART clinics.
Namanda says the district is now assessing the impact of the funding cuts before formally requesting additional wage allocations from the Ministry of Health to recruit new staff.
Before the suspension, MUWRP’s workforce had been deployed across Mukono General Hospital, health centre IIIs and IVs, and hard-to-reach areas such as Koome Island and the district’s rural communities.
The layoffs come at a time when Mukono District is already grappling with staff shortages due to a prolonged standoff over the formation of the District Service Commission (DSC).
For three years, political disagreements have stalled efforts to constitute the commission, blocking the much-needed recruitment of healthcare workers.
Dr. Geffrey Kasirye, the Medical Superintendent of Mukono General Hospital, attributes part of the staffing woes to political wrangles. He warns that with only 147 healthcare workers, just 52% of the required number, the hospital is at breaking point.
Dr. Kasirye highlights the urgent need for specialist doctors, particularly obstetricians, gynecologists, and surgeons, to improve service delivery.
Mukono District Speaker Betty Hope Nakasi has urged the District Service Commission to expedite the recruitment of healthcare workers whose positions were advertised last year. She also called on the district administration to explore ways to recruit additional staff to fill the gap.
Nakasi further proposed that the district consider temporarily deploying MUWRP’s laid-off workers voluntarily to ensure continuity of services rather than leaving them unemployed-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
