MPs push for installation of oxygen plant at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital

MASAKA - Lawmakers have asked Masaka Regional Referral Hospital management to expedite the installation of the oxygen plant.

The development followed concerns Auditor General (AG) Edward Akol raised in his report on the hospital for the year ended December 2025.

The report revealed that although the entity had received Sh502,849,265 over the past three years to facilitate the provision of health services, some equipment remained idle and non-operational, including the oxygen plant procured during the COVID-19 period.

The equipment was supplied by Global Gases, while the plant house infrastructure was constructed by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineers Brigade.

However, despite the completion of the civil works, the requisite equipment had not yet been installed.

“The critical pending works are connection of cables and other necessary accessories from the transformer’s feeder pillars to the building and installation of oxygen plant equipment,” states the AG.

Apparently, it is understood that the hospital relies on two other oxygen plants. These include an older unit supplied by the Ministry of Health, whose capacity has declined from 15 cubic metres per hour to less than 8 cubic metres per hour.

Armed with the report, members of Parliament (MPs) on Public Accounts Committee (Central) on Thursday, March 19, pushed for urgent installation.

The stress call was made during the committee's interaction with Hospital Director Dr. James Elima and his management team. The committee was chaired by Mawogola South MP Goretth Namugga (NUP).

Kalungu West MP Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu (NUP) asked the committee to review the valuation of contracts awarded to the national army where work has stalled, in order to curb rising cases of wasted expenditure.

"The only remedy they have is writing to their immediate supervisor and copying the UPDF Engineering brigade," he added.

PAC Vice Chairperson also asked the Health ministry to urgently address concerns on staffing, poor ambulance services and low funding.

Buhweju County MP Francis Mwijukye added, “We use that road. Most of us have had accidents on that road before. So, we need that hospital; it is not about Masaka people alone, it is for all of us.”

Responding to the criticism, Robert Mpanga (Principal Hospital Administrator said, "We were told to identify space where oxygen plants were to be constructed. The hospital leadership was not involved in contracts and all arrangements between Ministry of Health and the UPDF. Our major role is following up."