HEALTH | PARLIAMENT | DR OBBO

LIRA - MPs have faulted the Director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Dr John Stephen Obbo, for failure to absorb sh1.5b ring-fenced for hiring of medical specialists.

According to information obtained by legislators on Public Accountants Committee (PAC-Central) Lira Hospital received the funds for recruitment of staff in the 2020/2021 financial year, but instead ‘swept’ back the money to the Consolidated Fund.

“The issue is we observe inordinate delay in notifying the Health Service Commission, but also there is no evidence of receipt by the commission. What you attached does not show that you wrote to the Health Service Commission,” said Hon. Asuman Basalirwa (JEEMA, Bugiri Municipality), the committee vice chairperson.

The observation was made during the meeting with officials from Lira Hospital over the Auditor General’s report for the Financial Year 2020/2021 on Thursday, 30 June 2022.

Dr Obbo in his justification said the non-absorption was partly a result of the difficulty for rural based health facilities to attract specialists.

“It is very difficult for us to attract medical specialists but we believe that the increase in salaries for scientists will motivate many to work upcountry,” said Obbo.