Health
Agago's sh650m to recruit health workers returned to consolidated fund
The revelation emerged during a monitoring visit by officials from the Office of the President, who recently assessed service delivery at Patongo Health Centre IV and reviewed the facility’s operational challenges.
Patongo Health Centre III was elevated to a Health Centre IV and designated as a sub-district health facility during the 2023/2024 financial year by the Ministry of Health. However, staffing levels remain far below. (Photo by Christopher Nyeko)
By: Christopher Nyeko, Journalist @New Vision
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Agago District Local Government has decided to return more than sh650 million to the government’s Consolidated Fund after failing to utilise the money that had been allocated for the recruitment of over 80 health workers for Patongo Health Centre IV.
The funds, released by the Government to cater for wages of newly recruited staff, remained unspent as the financial year draws to a close this month.
The revelation emerged during a monitoring visit by officials from the Office of the President, who recently assessed service delivery at Patongo Health Centre IV and reviewed the facility’s operational challenges.
Patongo Health Centre III was elevated to a Health Centre IV and designated as a sub-district health facility during the 2023/2024 financial year by the Ministry of Health. However, staffing levels remain far below the ministry’s recommended standards.
The facility currently has 44 staff members, including health workers and support personnel, against the required 128 positions. It operates with eight nurses and nine midwives but lacks two critical medical doctors.
Agago District Chairperson Wilson Otto attributed the failure to recruit staff to the absence of an active District Service Commission.
According to Otto, the district was unable to proceed with recruitment because the list of proposed District Service Commission members submitted to the Ministry of Public Service for approval had not yet been cleared.
“We could not recruit without an approved District Service Commission. I have directed the Chief Administrative Officer to write to the central government requesting that the unspent funds be reimbursed to the district once recruitment can proceed,” Otto said.
He added that the district would immediately recruit the required personnel for Patongo HCIV once the commission is approved.
The facility currently has 44 staff members, including health workers and support personnel, against the required 128 positions. It operates with eight nurses and nine midwives but lacks two critical medical doctors.
Agago District Chairperson Wilson Otto attributed the failure to recruit staff to the absence of an active District Service Commission.
Lt Col (Rtd) Ambako Kibrai, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Mobilisation at the RDC Secretariat, criticised district leaders for failing to utilise the recruitment funds despite the severe staffing gaps at Patongo Health Centre III. (Photo by Christopher Nyeko)
According to Otto, the district was unable to proceed with recruitment because the list of proposed District Service Commission members submitted to the Ministry of Public Service for approval had not yet been cleared.
“We could not recruit without an approved District Service Commission. I have directed the Chief Administrative Officer to write to the central government requesting that the unspent funds be reimbursed to the district once recruitment can proceed,” Otto said.
He added that the district would immediately recruit the required personnel for Patongo HCIV once the commission is approved.
The staffing shortage has forced district officials to take on additional responsibilities at the facility. The District Health Educator has at times been assigned to serve as acting in-charge of Patongo HCIV, while the District Health Officer is concurrently serving as the facility’s Maternal and Child Health in-charge.
Patongo HCIV serves a catchment population of about 12,900 people and handles approximately 2,000 outpatient visits every month. Besides residents of Patongo and neighbouring sub-counties, the facility also receives patients from Abim, Otuke, Pader and Kitgum districts.
Meanwhile, Agago District passed a budget of Shs46 billion for the 2025/2026 financial year. By June 22, the government had released more than Shs39 billion to the district.
Although the district projected to raise Shs100 million in local revenue, collections reportedly fell below half the target, with some sub-counties generating less than Shs100,000 during the entire financial year.
The district leadership has increased its local revenue target for the 2026/2027 financial year from Shs100 million to Shs300 million, citing plans to strengthen local economic development initiatives and curb revenue leakages.
Lt. Col. (Rtd) Ambako Kibrai, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Mobilisation at the RDC Secretariat, criticised district leaders for failing to utilise the recruitment funds despite the severe staffing gaps at Patongo HCIV.
“Failure to use this money amounts to sabotaging government efforts to improve healthcare services,” Ambako said. He further added that the government has prioritised the development of newly upgraded Health Centre IV facilities through the construction of maternity wards, stores and other infrastructure, alongside the deployment of personnel and medical equipment.
“It is unfortunate that the district is returning money that was specifically sent to address staffing shortages. What if the funds do not come back? You have done a great disservice to the people who elected you as their leaders,” he warned.
The development raises fresh concerns over bureaucratic bottlenecks that continue to hamper service delivery, even as the government increases investments in the health sector.
Patongo HCIV serves a catchment population of about 12,900 people and handles approximately 2,000 outpatient visits every month. Besides residents of Patongo and neighbouring sub-counties, the facility also receives patients from Abim, Otuke, Pader and Kitgum districts.
Meanwhile, Agago District passed a budget of Shs46 billion for the 2025/2026 financial year. By June 22, the government had released more than Shs39 billion to the district.
Although the district projected to raise Shs100 million in local revenue, collections reportedly fell below half the target, with some sub-counties generating less than Shs100,000 during the entire financial year.
The district leadership has increased its local revenue target for the 2026/2027 financial year from Shs100 million to Shs300 million, citing plans to strengthen local economic development initiatives and curb revenue leakages.
Lt. Col. (Rtd) Ambako Kibrai, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Mobilisation at the RDC Secretariat, criticised district leaders for failing to utilise the recruitment funds despite the severe staffing gaps at Patongo HCIV.
“Failure to use this money amounts to sabotaging government efforts to improve healthcare services,” Ambako said. He further added that the government has prioritised the development of newly upgraded Health Centre IV facilities through the construction of maternity wards, stores and other infrastructure, alongside the deployment of personnel and medical equipment.
“It is unfortunate that the district is returning money that was specifically sent to address staffing shortages. What if the funds do not come back? You have done a great disservice to the people who elected you as their leaders,” he warned.
The development raises fresh concerns over bureaucratic bottlenecks that continue to hamper service delivery, even as the government increases investments in the health sector.