Two years ago, 62-year-old Bernad Mwesigye was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, a condition that caused a severe urinary blockage. Seeking relief, he went to Fort Portal Hospital, where surgery — the only viable option recommended by doctors — was expected.
But Mwesigye was devastated to learn that the hospital had no urologist. “I thought I would leave this hospital a relieved man. Instead, I was told they didn’t offer the service. I was crushed,” Mwesigye recalled.
He was eventually referred to Mbarara Hospital, the only facility in western Uganda with a urologist at the time.
For Mwesigye, the inability of a referral hospital to provide specialised care was both shocking and unacceptable.
Mwesigye’s experience mirrors that of Moses Kyaligonza, whose 15-year-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer in 2020.
Kyaligonza turned to Fort Portal’s referral hospital for help, only to discover it lacked oncology specialists.
With no other option, his family travelled to the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala — incurring significant transport and treatment costs.
“A referral hospital should handle what lower-level facilities cannot. But if all they treat is malaria and coughs, then what is it really?” Kyaligonza asked.
Few specialists, broken equipment
In 2021, then-hospital director Dr Alex Adaku revealed that Buhinga Hospital had only 11 specialists, out of a required 26.
The hospital lacked professionals; including radiologists, pathologists, cardiologists, neurologists, surgeons, urologists, and obstetricians. Outdated and overused medical equipment further compounded the crisis.
For example, while over 100 patients required radiography services daily, the hospital had just one radiographer — causing delays and severe congestion.
Although the number of radiographers has since increased to seven, challenges persist. The hospital currently employs only 16 specialists out of a newly approved 65.
Supply gaps exacerbate the crisis
The hospital’s issues go beyond staffing. In January last year, 34-year-old Jadreth Ninsiima gave birth to her second child at Buhinga Hospital. Shockingly, she had to purchase all her delivery supplies — from gloves to cotton wool.
“They had nothing. I even saw doctors sharing gloves to deliver mothers who couldn’t afford to buy their own,” Ninsiima said.
Joseph Mutabingwa, a resident of Rwengoma A1 in Fort Portal Central Division, believes the hospital’s woes are rooted in structural inefficiencies and an overwhelming patient load.
“As a regional hospital, it has qualified specialists, which we appreciate. But the number of patients they handle is simply too high. This leads to serious delays,” he explained.
Mutabingwa acknowledged that the hospital provides care, but said the volume of patients far exceeds its capacity, creating bottlenecks and long waiting times.
Buhinga Hospital serves a vast catchment area that includes Fort Portal, Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Kitagwenda, Bunyangabu, Kasese, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo and even patients from neighbouring DR Congo.
The hospital’s 2016/2017 performance report indicated a sharp rise in outpatient visits — from 225,322 in 2015/2016 to 244,249 in 2016/2017. In 2016 alone, the hospital referred 6,866 patients for specialised care, with over 160 requiring external treatment.
Inpatient admissions rose from 28,264 in 2015/2016 to 29,818 the following year. The maternity ward alone handled an average of 1,000 deliveries each month.
A death sparked public outcry
In January last year, Buhinga Hospital drew national attention after the death of cultural music icon Moses Kigambo Araali. Admitted on January 4 with a severe intestinal obstruction, he died without surgery — allegedly due to a non-functional operating theatre.
A viral video by Pastor Ronald Musinguzi captured attendants and student nurses scrambling to find help.
Hospital administrators denied negligence, claiming the delay was due to the severity of Kigambo’s condition — not a dirty or unusable theatre. His death triggered the Save Buhinga Hospital campaign.
Residents petitioned the health ministry, citing rampant staff absenteeism, bribery, extortion, corruption, intoxicated personnel and a non-functional ICU since the COVID-19 pandemic.
At a public dialogue on January 10 at Booma Grounds, the community demanded a complete overhaul of the hospital’s management.
Government action and a new start
In response to the public outcry, the health ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Diana Atwine, announced the immediate interdiction of Dr Alex Adaku.
She also pledged to transfer staff who had served for more than five years and implement reforms to boost accountability.
Margaret Muhanga, the state minister for primary health care, supported the move and decried the corruption plaguing the hospital.
“This hospital needs redemption. I have been extorted here three times,” Muhanga, who is also the MP for Burahya County revealed.
Glimmer of hope
Under the leadership of Dr Archbald Newton Sebahire, the hospital’s acting senior executive consultant, a wave of reform is underway. A five-year infrastructure improvement plan now emphasises transparency, discipline and community participation.
“We are creating platforms for public dialogue, accountability and feedback,” said Sebahire.
“Staff attendance is being closely monitored. We are tackling extortion and indiscipline head-on.”
In just four months, three staff members have been retired in the public interest, three others interdicted and three more await disciplinary hearings.
One security guard was caught smuggling hospital records in sacks; another staffer was interdicted for selling medical documents. Signs of progress are beginning to show.
The hospital recently launched neurosurgery services, cutting referrals by 60%. So far, 30 cases — ranging from craniotomies to fracture repairs — have been successfully conducted.
Staff have also received training in echocardiograms and electrocardiograms and new cardiac equipment has been installed. Sebahire is optimistic these developments will strengthen heart care.
“If we can start orthopaedic and ENT surgeries soon, we expect external referrals to drop to less than 15%,” he said.
He added that the hospital’s general supplies budget has been doubled to improve patient care.
“The issue of sending patients to buy adhesive tape, giving sets, cannulas and catheters will be addressed this financial year,” Sebahire pledged. “Medicine is not food; we shall commit to disease prevention all the time.”
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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