Why leaders want Kiryandongo Hospital upgraded

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Kiryandongo district leaders say there is an urgent need to upgrade Kiryandongo General Hospital to a Highway Regional Referral Hospital to better serve the community's increasing health demands.

During a recent budget conference at the district headquarters, medical superintendent Dr Godfrey Kisembo highlighted the hospital's struggles to provide adequate care for a population that has increased beyond its intended capacity.

Kisembo emphasised that Kiryandongo General Hospital, originally designed for 104 beds, now operates with 175 beds, often treating patients on the floor due to overcrowding.



"We need this facility upgraded to a regional referral status to access necessary equipment, such as a CT scan, which is crucial for treating patients with head injuries," he appealed.

The hospital's challenges extend beyond infrastructure. Staffing shortages plague the facility, with only 169 of the 343 required staff members currently in place—just 33% of the needed workforce.

"Our biggest problem is the lack of funds to recruit essential personnel, including a substantive surgeon," Dr Kisembo lamented, saying that they have often relied on the support of intern students from Kampala International University to fill the gaps.

Additionally, Kiryandongo General Hospital grapples with outdated medical equipment and insufficient supplies.

Kisembo pointed out the need for patient monitors, beds, operating equipment and other essential medical gear.

"We also depend on Hoima and Gulu referral hospitals for blood supplies, which hampers our ability to respond effectively to emergencies. Last year's annual drug allocation of sh800m falls short of the sh1.2 billion required to meet the hospital’s needs.

The medical superintendent also raised concerns about the high prevalence of preventable diseases attributed to open defecation among Kiryandongo residents.

"With 40% of the population engaged in this practice, conditions such as cholera, typhoid, and gastrointestinal disorders increase. We must intensify health education and community engagement to promote hygienic practices and increase latrine construction," Kisembo urged.

High rate of unclaimed bodies

He added that they're faced with a challenge of unclaimed bodies at the facility noting that in the financial year 2024/25 151 bodies were recorded at the facility, and 31 were unclaimed.

"This poses a significant challenge for the facility, with many victims coming from accidents or mob justice incidents. The hospital is currently unable to handle the disposal of these bodies properly due to limited resources and space," he added.

Dr Irene Nabitaka, the acting district health officer of Kiryandongo district, said they are lacking many critical staff at the facility.

She said the upgrading of this hospital is way overdue saying in case of an accident it's the first facility where the victims are rushed, adding that sometimes they get overwhelmed because they have limited supply and manpower, yet the demand is high.

"We have written concepts to the ministries of health and finance to ensure that this is considered, and we are waiting. That's why we are calling upon the national leaders to join this effort and influence the concerned," Nabitaka said.

The officials were speaking during a budget conference held under the theme: Full Monetisation of Uganda's Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Industrialisation, Expanding and Broadening Services, Digital Transformation and Market Access.

Kiryandongo's chief administrative officer, Anslem Kyaligonza, outlined the district's future budget strategy, emphasising the imperative of investing in health infrastructure alongside education and agriculture.

With a projected district budget of shillings 38.7 billion, Kiryandongo aims to generate shillings 2.8 billion from local revenue, alongside sh34.7b from Central Government transfers and sh1.1b from donors and partners.

Major budget allocations include shillings 14.5 billion for education, shillings 9.7 billion for health, shillings 4.3 billion for administration,  production sh2.1 billion, works and technical services shillings 2.3 billion and community services shillings 1.9 billion, among others.

However, he acknowledged that the budget remains insufficient to adequately address the hospital's overwhelming needs calling upon the members of parliament and the district leaders to team up and lobby for the upgrade of the hospital.

LC5 Chairperson Edith Aliguma echoed the call for hospital upgrades, noting the increasing number of accidents along the Gulu-Kampala highway necessitating enhanced medical facilities and equipment.

She further highlighted pressing issues of malnutrition and poverty in the district, with alarming statistics revealing that only 11% of children in refugee settlements have access to three meals a day and 16% being able to access a complete meal and three meals in the general district.

Deputy Resident District Commissioner Jonathan Akweteireho praised the district leaders' focus on education as a cornerstone for transformative change, calling attention to the concerning number of school dropouts in Kiryandongo.