MP Byandala, LCV Chair disagree on proposed Luweero Hospital

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A disagreement has erupted between Luweero District Chairman Ronald Ndawula and Katikamu North Member of Parliament Abraham Byandala over the proposed construction of Luweero Hospital.

Doctor Henry Mwebesa, the Acting Director General of Health Services announced that Government had elevated Luweero Health Center IV to hospital status.

He said the government had already allocated 1.2 billion Shillings to complete structures for the proposed hospital and that the Ministry of Health will send essential medicines and other requirements for operationalization of the facility effective June this year.

The news was received with excitement among health workers, locals and residents. Many are optimistic that the move will improve health service delivery in the district.

However, Katikamu North Member of Parliament Abraham Byandala wants the government to buy 20 acres of land from another area to enable it to set up all the required units at the Hospital. The current facility sits on four acres of land, which Byandala says is not enough to accommodate the required service points.

But the district leaders led by Ronald Ndawula, the LCV Chairman have rejected Byandala’s idea arguing that the four acres are enough to redevelop the Health Centre into a fully-fledged hospital if well planned.

Ndawula says the current plan by the district is to construct storied structures to accommodate all needed services but not to spread buildings. He added the current site is strategic and accessible to all people across the district.

Sinani Mabuya, a clinical officer at Luweero Health Center IV says that the elevation was a big relief and availability of land cannot be an issue. He added that the available space only requires a good plan.

Bwanika Bbaale, a local politician also supports the district saying there was no need to spend huge sums of money to buy land instead of equipping the hospital to serve the masses.

By the time the Ministry of Health elevated Luweero Health Center IV to hospital status, the district had embarked on the construction of four storied building to cater for the maternity ward and other medical services. District authorities say the 1.2 billion Shillings allocated to the hospital will be used to complete the building and renovate others.

Currently there two hospitals in Luweero district which includes Bishop Ceaser Asili Hospital, a Church funded facility and Bombo Military Hospital.