Leaders decry poor state of Bundibugyo hospital
Some of the staff quarters at Bundibugyo General Hospital in Bundibugyo District. The leaders say the staff quarters were built in 1965, and have never been renovated since then. PHOTO/ALEX ASHABA
What you need to know:
- The leaders say the health facility, which was constructed in 1969, has not had a facelift since then.
After 56 years of operation, both Bundibugyo District leaders and Bundibugyo hospital administrators acknowledge that the structures of the health facility are deteriorating, and essential equipment have broken down.
The facility, which was built in 1969, serves more than 40,000 people, but its structure has not been expanded to accommodate the growing demand for medical care.
Dr James Maisaba, the hospital’s medical superintendent, said when the facility was built, the wards were designed to accommodate only 26 patients.
However, due to the increasing population and demand for healthcare services, each ward now accommodates more than 50 patients at a time.
When this publication visited the facility last week, some of the patients inside the wards were seen sleeping on the floor due to congestion.
“For the past 56 years, Bundibugyo hospital has continued to serve an increasing population, which now exceeds 42,000 people. The number of patients in the wards has doubled beyond the facility’s original capacity,” Dr Maisaba said.
Patients in a ward at Bundibugyo Hospital in January 2025.
He further revealed that the hospital’s outpatient department (OPD) receives approximately 43,000 patients each month, with about 10,000 admitted in various wards.
Dr Maisaba noted that due to the hospital's long years of operation, many structures have deteriorated. He called on the government, through the Ministry of Health, to allocate funds for the construction of new, spacious buildings to accommodate the increasing number of patients.
“Some of our structures have been condemned as unfit for patient care. Our X-ray machine is non-functional, yet this is critical equipment that a general hospital like ours should have,” he said.
The X-ray machine at the hospital broke down in 2018, and in June 2020, when the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwine, visited the facility, the matter was brought to her attention and she reportedly pledged to have the machine repaired.
Due to the lack of an operational X-ray machine, patients requiring imaging services are referred to Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, which is more than 50kms away.
This forces the patients to either incur additional transport costs or seek expensive services at private facilities.
An X-ray machine is used to produce images of the inside of the body. It is used to examine the extent of damage from injuries such as broken bones.
Dr Maisaba also said the operating theatre at the facility is in a deplorable condition, adding that it is outdated and unable to meet the demands of the growing population.
"Our urgent appeal to the government is to construct a new theatre and equip it with modern medical equipment to enable health workers to provide effective surgical care," he said.
The Bundibugyo District chairperson, Mr Robert Tubakunirwa, expressed concern over the delayed renovation of Bundibugyo hospital despite a pledge in 2021 by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during her visit to the district.
She promised that the hospital would be renovated and new structures would be constructed.
However, to date, no construction work has begun.
Mr Tubakunirwa further said the situation is particularly dire for the staff quarters, which are in a deplorable state, putting the lives of health workers at risk.
He said water supply issues persist, making conditions even more challenging.
"The Ministry of Health has several funding opportunities and if resources become available, the government should prioritise Bundibugyo hospital for general renovation, given that it is one of the oldest healthcare facilities in the region,” he said.
The Member of Parliament for Bughendera County in Bundibugyo District, Mr Moses Acrobat Kiiza, said the challenges at Bundibugyo Hospital were raised in Parliament, but they are yet to receive a response from the government.
“The staff quarters were built in 1965 and have never been renovated. Last year, we met with the prime minister over this issue, but to our dismay, there has been no response regarding the renovation of this hospital,” Mr Kiiza said.
He added that the hospital requires special consideration because it serves not only Bundibugyo District but also Ntoroko District and parts of eastern DR Congo.
The Bundibugyo District Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Charles Ouma, said the district does not have enough resources to renovate the facility and recruit more staff.
“The Ministry of Health promised to intervene but they said they were still handling the backlog of other facilities. But we hope they will soon fulfil our request,” he said.
Efforts to get comments from the district health officer, and the Health ministry, were futile by press time.
Background
Located just a few kilometres from the Uganda-DR Congo border, Bundibugyo Hospital plays a crucial role in managing disease outbreaks, particularly among patients crossing from DR Congo during times of conflict.
