Rukungiri— The absence of a district referral hospital in Rukungiri District is irking the delivery of medical care services to residents.
Residents said the gap is making it difficult for patients with serious and complicated medical conditions to access specialized treatment close to home.
Residents said the district’s existing health facilities provide important services to the community but face limitations and difficulties when dealing with complicated cases that require specialized doctors, advanced diagnostic equipment, surgery among others.
‘’ Due to lack of a district referral hospital, patients who require specialized treatment are referred to hospitals outside the district, a situation that increases the financial and emotional burden on families’’. Mr Julius Mugarura , a resident of Bugangari sub- county said.
Mr Mugarura added that ‘’ Most families in our district depend largely on farming and small businesses as their main source of income. Therefore transportation of patients from Rukungiri to Mbarara and Kabale regional referral hospitals becomes expensive to some families and their people end up dying’’.
Ms Jennifer Mbabazi, 43 and a resident of Bwambara sub- county in Rukungiri district said lack of a district referral hospital has great implications on their health concerns mostly especially when it comes at a time of referrals.
‘’ I almost lost my dear husband because of poor referral services brought on by lack of a district general hospital. It was late in the night and the nurses at Bwambara health center 3 told me that the situation has worsened and we advised them to seek services at Nyikabale hospital. When we reached Nyikabale we were referred to Mbarara hospital for specialized treatment. If there was a district hospital we wouldn’t have suffered ‘’. Ms Mbabazi said.
She now wants the government to at least establish or upgrade a hospital capable of providing specialized medical care services to residents.
Ms Catharine Twinomunjuni , a mother of 3 and a resident of Buyanja sub- county in Rukungiri district said ‘’ We need a district referral hospital such that we can be able to access nearby specialized medical care services because we a tired of traveling long distances seeking such services at Kabale and Mbarara hospitals in Kabale and Mbarara district respectively’’.
Ms Twinomunjuni added that ‘’ My mother died on her way to Mbarara hospital. Yes no body can stop death but at least she would have died on another day if we had a district hospital ‘’.
Mr Darious Tushaba, 36 and a resident of Kebisoni town council in Rubabo County in Rukungiri district said ‘’ When a district gets a hospital, it will be easy to handle expectant mothers who develop complications while giving birth’’.
Mr Tushaba added that’’ Health facilities in our district are also important but they only provide primary and basic medical care, but they cannot handle every medical condition that’s why we badly need a general hospital in our district ’’.
The Buyanja sub- county LC 3 Chairperson Mr Agaba Emmy Rubondo said having a district referral hospital would bring specialized services closer to our people.
‘’ Transporting a sick person over a long distance is very risky and it can contribute to loss of life. It can also delay access to treatment and place additional pressure on relatives that’s why we badly need general hospital’’. Mr Rubondo said.
Ms Sylvia Musiime, a retired midwife and a resident of southern division in Rukungiri municipality, believes that having a district hospital would help to address maternal healthcare concerns.
‘’ Pregnancy and childbirth sometimes involve complications requiring emergency surgery, blood transfusion or specialist medical attention and such services are only available in general hospitals ‘’Ms Musiime said.
Ms Musiime added that ‘’ A well-equipped referral hospital could provide maternity services supported by medical specialists, laboratories, theatres and emergency facilities’’.
Mr Dan Mugume , a resident of Nyakagyeme sub-county and a trained health worker, said a district hospital could provide a link between lower-level health centers and regional or national referral facilities.
‘’ Accessing services from national hospitals becomes easy because Doctors share knowledge which can also help patients seeking treatment ‘’. Mr Mugume said.
Mr Mugume added that ‘’ A district hospital is for sure needed because the district’s population is increasing on a daily basis so the government should consider the district’s population growth, geographical coverage and disease patterns among others’’.
When contacted for a comment, the Rukungiri district lc5 chairperson Mr Charles Andrewson Katebiire said ‘’ Am aware of this problem and our members of parliament are also aware of this challenge but am going to engage and remind them’’.
Speaking at a recent graduation ceremony of Nyakagyeme community learning center in Nyakagyeme sub- county Rujumbura county Rukungiri district, the Minister of security and the Rujumbura county Member of Parliament Rtd. Maj. Gen. Jim K muhwezi said ‘’ My office is very much aware that we don’t have a district hospital but the good news is that we are upgrading Rukungiri health center 4 to become a district hospital in a phased manner’’.
Minister Muhwezi added that ‘’ The government through the ministry of health has so far constructed a theatre , maternity ward , improved laboratories among others . So you (public) should not worry because we pushing hardly such that we have fully functional district hospital’’
Minister Muhwezi noted that ’’ because of hosting Afcon tournament , the government has channeled a lot of funds to construction of stadiums, hotels among other necessities so we will not add anything towards upgrading of Rukungiri health center 4 but I can confirm you that in the coming financial year we add on until we get a fully functional hospital’’ .
Health Facilities .
Rukungiri district has Public four health1V’s, 1 Church owned health center 4, 6 public health center 111’s and 2 church owned hospitals and they are serving a population of 376,110 according to the Uganda bureau of statistics 2024 population census.
