Kikuube suffering under eye doctor scarcity

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Kikuube district council has passed a recommendation seeking the recruitment of an ophthalmologist through council resolution to address the challenges of eye problems in the district.  An ophthalmologist diagnoses and treats all eye diseases, performs eye surgery and prescribes and fits eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems.

While presenting the recommendation to the council meeting chaired by deputy speaker, Asaph Tuhumwie, at the district headquarters in Kisambo village, Kiziranfumbi sub-county on Monday, June 30, 2025, social services chairperson Christopher Asiimwe said there was an urgent need to recruit an ophthalmologist.

He noted that since the district was created, it has never had an ophthalmologist, and this has left several patients suffering to access eye care and treatment.

He noted that many people in the district, especially elderly persons and children, have eye issues and they have to travel to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, while others go to private health facilities to access the treatment.

He noted that Kikuube Health IV is equipped with eye treatment machines used but they are idle due to a lack of a professional to operate them.

“We are appealing that the position of ophthalmologist be put in the structures of Kikuube district. Many donors are willing to help the district with the issue of eye care, but they cannot due to a lack of an eye doctor. Eye treatment is expensive, and many of our people cannot afford it,” he said.

Kikuube district councillor (PWDs), Edward Kusiima, said the recruitment of an ophthalmologist was long overdue and called on the council to pass the recommendation.

He noted that several people with eye problems without money to travel to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital are dying silently in villages and called for immediate intervention to address the crisis. It is from this submission that the councillors unanimously passed the recommendation into a council resolution.

Acting Kikuube district health officer, Dr Gerald Asaba, commended the councillors for approving the recommendation, adding that the lack of ophthalmologists is a big challenge to the district health department and that the recruitment will be a big relief to many people in the district.