Health Monitoring Unit petitioned to probe Iganga Hospital

_______________

Residents of Iganga district have urged the State House Health Monitoring Unit (HMU) to investigate further into issues plaguing health facilities in the region, including health centres IIIs, IVs, and Iganga General Hospital, in efforts to enhance service delivery.

During a community dialogue at the Iganga Municipal Primary School playground, concerns were raised before the HMU team led by Dr Diana Nabatanzi.

Anthony Wanume from Namusa village, Namungalwe sub-county, queried the alleged extortion of money by the hospital's mortuary attendant when families retrieve the bodies of their deceased relatives.

Others accused the mortuary attendant, Asuman Gonza, of charging exorbitant fees—shillings 150,000 for small bodies and shillings 250,000 for larger bodies—daily for bathing and dressing corpses.

Haji Abubaker Walubi, the NRM chairperson in Iganga, suggested raising the mortuary attendant's salary to curb the reported extortion.

The Deputy Director Health Monitoring Unit State House Dr. Julian Nabatanzi (right) reading an accountability report about the health sector of Iganga district during a community engagement at Iganga Municipal Primary School playground. (Photo by Donald Kiirya)

Asuman Mukasa, a local shoe dealer, flagged the issue of hospital staff quarters being rented to non-health workers, calling for an investigation.

Musa Kakata raised concerns about nearby clinics offering unnecessary X-ray services, allegedly influenced by doctors from Iganga General Hospital.

Dr Julian Nabatanzi, the deputy director of the HMU, assured the community of thorough investigations into these matters within the Busoga sub-region.

The HMU has conducted spot checks over the past month, uncovering cases of drug theft, financial mismanagement, document falsification, absenteeism, forgery, impersonation, and irregularities in recruitment across Iganga's health facilities.

Several arrests have been made, including Dr Dauda Mugoya, Ramathan Mugoloofa, and Michael Isabirye from Iganga General Hospital, implicated in alleged mismanaging of over shillings 436 million.

Dr Nabatanzi pledged to continue investigations and submit a comprehensive report to President Yoweri Museveni.

Despite public accusations, Gonza denied extortion, claiming families voluntarily show appreciation after his services.

Dr Brian Arinaitwe, assistant director of the State House Health Monitoring Unit, disclosed that Dr Mugoya, Isabirye, and Mugoloofa are interdicted pending police investigations on criminal charges.

Acting Medical Superintendent Dr Ann Amatte vowed to engage the community in public forums.