Over 400 treated in Hoima as dental needs overwhelm health camp

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Four hundred and fifty patients with dental illnesses from different parts of Hoima district and Hoima city have received free treatment.

The patients, mostly children and women, were treated during a one-day health camp organised by Albertine Dental Surgery and Azure Health Centre IV, with sponsorship from China Oilfield Services Limited (COSLU)’s oilfield chemicals project team.

COSLU is the main contractor for both the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil projects in Buliisa and Kikuube districts.

Speaking at the opening of the health camp on March 27, 2026, Osborne Mutegeki, the administrator of Azure Health Centre IV in Hoima city, said the camp was organised after it was discovered that low-income communities were struggling to access dental health services.

Hundreds of people who turned up for the dental health camp waiting to be treated. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)

He noted that dental illness remains a serious challenge affecting local communities due to a lack of knowledge on how to treat, prevent, and maintain oral health.

He added that the facility receives over 100 patients on average every month seeking dental services, with many visiting only after their condition has deteriorated and requires surgery.

“During this camp, we are going to check and treat patient with dental problems but before we started treatment, we are going sensitize people who have turned up for this camp on how prevent dental illness, how to maintain their oral health, we are also advising them to always visit the health facilities for dental checkup even when they have no pain” said.

Abel Wembabazi, a dental surgeon at Albertine Dental Surgery Hoima, said the health camp attracted an overwhelming number of patients, noting that they had targeted 300 but ended up treating 450.

He identified dental caries, gum disease, dental calculus, fractures resulting from accidents, and tooth decay as the most common conditions among patients.

“In some cases, some people who delay visiting health facilities to seek dental service develop abscesses resulting from Tooth decay, and this sometimes requires surgery,” he said.

He noted that oral health remains a major challenge due to ignorance about treatment and maintenance, adding that some people fail to seek services due to the high cost of treatment.

“When the tooth has decay and it requires cementing, it cost sh50,000, there are those that needs root canal, this treatment sh150,000 to sh200,000 and the patient who needs extraction of tooth, extraction in some place costs between sh5,000 to sh20,000, so this camp to me is very important because as Albertin dental surgery we have been longing to have such support so that we can sensitize our the community because our people here lack awareness,” he said adding that his facility treats 300 patient every month.

Huang Chunbo, research and development manager at COSLU, said supporting the dental health camp is part of their corporate social responsibility aimed at strengthening good working relationships with the community and promoting health.

“Today’s dental camp is part of our continued commitment to community health and wellbeing. Oral health is often overlooked, yet it is essential to overall health, confidence, and quality of life. Through this initiative, we aim to provide free dental services, raise awareness on proper oral hygiene practices and encourage early prevention and treatment of oral diseases,” he said.



Samuel Mugisa, the social affairs coordinator at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), said they were pleased with the partnership focusing on health promotion.

He expressed optimism that the health camp would create awareness about oral health, including causes, prevention, and treatment, noting that access to specialised dental care remains difficult in many rural communities.

“While we commit to unlock the economic potential of this region, we firmly believe that true development is not measured only in pipes, infrastructures, or petroleum, but it is measured by the health, well-being, and happiness of the people in the communities where we operate,” he said.

Zakaria Lubega, an official from China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), said oral health remains a global burden affecting 3.5 billion people across all age groups.

He commended COSLU for supporting the initiative, noting that health promotion is one of CNOOC’s key commitments. “At CNOOC, we believe that when we invest in the health and skills of our communities, we invest in the future of Uganda,” he said.

Patrick Wabyona of Mbiwe village in Kitoba subcounty, one of the beneficiaries, said dental services are expensive. “I'm here because I need to wash my teeth. I went to a health centre in Hoima city seeking to clean my teeth, but they demanded sh80,000, and I did not have this money, so I decided to remain with my problem.