Rubirizi appeals for government intervention on water, roads, and health

Rubirizi District leaders have appealed to the Government to construct a hospital and urgently address water and road challenges that they say are undermining healthcare, tourism and economic activity.

Dr Aida Nankinga, the district health officer, said the district's highest level of health service is a health centre IV, leaving residents without adequate access to specialised and surgical care.

"The highest level of service delivery we have in this district is a health centre IV. And that means we are really deprived of specialised care," Nankinga said.

She said Rubirizi has a population of 178,901 people but no district hospital, forcing residents to depend on the health centre IV, which cannot handle some complicated cases.

Nankinga was speaking on Saturday during the launch of a medical camp organised by the Office of the President in partnership with Bazungu EV and the Lions Club of Rubirizi.

She said the district is grappling with malaria, tuberculosis, hypertension, diabetes and HIV, as well as conditions requiring surgery, including hernias, prostate swelling and other swellings.

Many residents also need eye care, while others require wheelchairs and treatment for various complications, she said.

"Our appeal to the ministry or even to the government is to help us and put up for us, even if it is a community hospital, so that our people are able to access surgical and specialised services," Nankinga said.

Water crisis

Rubirizi district chairperson Obed Agaba Byakuleka said residents of Kabukiri in Ndangara Parish, Ryeru Sub-County, are forced to fetch water from wells that the district has established are contaminated.

"We have written several letters to the minister, and to the environment officers, to National Water, and all these departments which could help us. But unfortunately, we have not gotten a hand to help us," Byakuleka said.

He appealed to the Government to treat the situation as an emergency and provide funds to enable residents to access safe water.

"I would appeal to the government, requesting that there should be an emergency call, that they should allocate funds and help the people of Kabukiri, people of Ndangara, to have clean water," he said.

Poor roads hurt tourism

Byakuleka also said poor roads were undermining tourism and economic activity in the district.

He singled out the Kashaka road, which connects several tourism centres, saying its poor condition makes it difficult for visitors to reach the attractions.

"The Kashaka road is in such poor condition that visitors find it hard to reach those areas," he said.

He also cited the road linking Bunyaruguru and Katerera counties and connecting Rubirizi with Ibanda, Kamwenge and Kitagwenda districts.

According to Byakuleka, the road becomes "completely non-motorable" during rainy seasons despite its economic importance.

He called for increased Government investment in tourism infrastructure, including equipping and standardising tourism centres and supporting their promotion.

"Rubirizi District is a tourism district, but the government has not done its part to come out and help Rubirizi as a tourism district," he said.

Medical camp

The four-day medical camp offered eye screening, free reading glasses, cataract surgeries, medical consultations, diagnosis and treatment.

Nankinga said the programme had been expanded beyond eye care to include screening for prostate, cervical and breast cancers, as well as treatment for general illnesses and surgical conditions.

"We are so lucky with the support of the Lions Club of Rubirizi and even Bazungu EV. They decided to expand this camp, not only for eye patients," she said.

Ajad Zimana, representing the Secretary to the Presidency, said the camp was part of activities ahead of Uganda's 64th Independence anniversary.

Zimana said similar medical camps have been organised in different parts of the country since 2023 and urged residents to take advantage of the free services.

She said the response from residents had been strong following mobilisation through Bunyarguru FM.

The Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, Sandra Santa Alum, who officiated on behalf of the Minister for the Presidency, Milly Bababalanda, said people should not be disadvantaged in accessing healthcare because of where they live or their financial circumstances.

"Access to quality health should never depend on how far a family lives from a city or how much money is in their pocket," Alum said.

She said medical camps help take healthcare closer to underserved communities that would otherwise incur significant costs travelling to access specialised services.

Alum commended the Office of the President, Bazungu EV and the Lions Club of Rubirizi for collaborating on the initiative.