Kumi district starts public dialogues
Dec 31, 2009
RESIDENTS of Kanyum sub-county in Kumi district have accused the medical staff of extorting money from expectant mothers, late-coming and selling drugs and syringes.
By James Odong
and Salume Among
RESIDENTS of Kanyum sub-county in Kumi district have accused the medical staff of extorting money from expectant mothers, late-coming and selling drugs and syringes.
They also accused the medical workers of charging mothers who give birth to girls sh3,000 and boys sh4,000.
The locals made the disclosure on Thursday during the launch of baraza, a public dialogue where the residents gather and ask leaders to account for money allocated to government programmes.
They also accused the medical workers of forcing pregnant women to take two basins to the health centres.
“Why is it that when a patient is taken to the government hospital at Atutur, they are referred to a private clinic in Kumi town? Atutur is our district hospital. Doesn’t it have medicine and equipment?†Moses Okello, a resident, asked.
The district health officer, Dr. Julius Otim, explained that they were facing a shortage of medical staff, which made service delivery challenging.
“We have only 38% of the required workforce. We advertised for various posts and once we fill them, we shall be more efficient,†Otim said.
Disaster preparedness state minister Musa Ecweru, who officiated at the launch, criticised public servants of inflating and misappropriating public funds.
He cited an official of the National Agriculture Advisory Services in Kaberamaido, who allegedly bought a bull, which would cost about sh1m, at an exorbitant sh6m.
Kumi MP Patrick Amuriat cautioned the dialogue monitors not to get involved in politics, adding that political leaders must also give accountability.
“We have masters of corruption in Kampala. I hope the Government is not only targeting the small fish in the villages,†he said.
Amuriat proposed that all ministers involved in corruption should be sacked.
and Salume Among
RESIDENTS of Kanyum sub-county in Kumi district have accused the medical staff of extorting money from expectant mothers, late-coming and selling drugs and syringes.
They also accused the medical workers of charging mothers who give birth to girls sh3,000 and boys sh4,000.
The locals made the disclosure on Thursday during the launch of baraza, a public dialogue where the residents gather and ask leaders to account for money allocated to government programmes.
They also accused the medical workers of forcing pregnant women to take two basins to the health centres.
“Why is it that when a patient is taken to the government hospital at Atutur, they are referred to a private clinic in Kumi town? Atutur is our district hospital. Doesn’t it have medicine and equipment?†Moses Okello, a resident, asked.
The district health officer, Dr. Julius Otim, explained that they were facing a shortage of medical staff, which made service delivery challenging.
“We have only 38% of the required workforce. We advertised for various posts and once we fill them, we shall be more efficient,†Otim said.
Disaster preparedness state minister Musa Ecweru, who officiated at the launch, criticised public servants of inflating and misappropriating public funds.
He cited an official of the National Agriculture Advisory Services in Kaberamaido, who allegedly bought a bull, which would cost about sh1m, at an exorbitant sh6m.
Kumi MP Patrick Amuriat cautioned the dialogue monitors not to get involved in politics, adding that political leaders must also give accountability.
“We have masters of corruption in Kampala. I hope the Government is not only targeting the small fish in the villages,†he said.
Amuriat proposed that all ministers involved in corruption should be sacked.