Mulago Hospital is just a monument, says Justice Mulyagonja
Justice Irene Mulyagonja (in a gomesi) paying her last respects to her husband at Rubaga Cathedral on May 21, 2025. Photo/Judiciary
What you need to know:
Speaking during a requiem mass at Rubaga Cathedral on Monday, Justice Mulyagonja recounted the painful journey she endured in search of affordable and adequate care for her husband, who died on Saturday after battling illness for two months
Court of Appeal Justice Irene Mulyagonja has described Mulago National Referral Hospital as “just a monument,” delivering a scathing indictment of Uganda’s public healthcare system during a heartfelt tribute to her late husband, Advocate John Kakooza.
Speaking during a requiem mass at Rubaga Cathedral on Monday, Justice Mulyagonja recounted the painful journey she endured in search of affordable and adequate care for her husband, who died on Saturday after battling illness for two months.
“I have to say this, John would not forgive me if I didn’t,” she began. “He fought for the rights of others. I, too, have fought for the rights of the vulnerable. So I want to say this: yes, we have that hospital, but I think it’s just a monument. Something has to change.”
She described being unable to access basic medical supplies such as insulin and nasogastric (NG) tubes in Mulago’s private wing, known as 6B. “It’s called a specialized hospital,” she said. “But if on 6B, the government cannot provide a shot of insulin or an NG tube, what hope is there for ordinary Ugandans?”
The judge, visibly emotional, narrated how the hospital’s failure to deliver timely care compounded her husband’s suffering. “We were told an NG tube would be inserted. One person came, said they would do it, and disappeared. Another came with the same promise—and also disappeared. By evening, we were told they simply had no NG tubes in stock.”
She added that even routine blood tests could not be carried out at the facility, with doctors advising her to go to private laboratories instead. “You cannot do a CBC [Complete Blood Count] and wait 24 hours for results, not in a specialized hospital. It speaks volumes about healthcare in this country,” she said.
Justice Mulyagonja detailed the couple’s path through multiple hospitals. They began treatment at International Hospital Kampala (IHK), then moved to Nsambya Hospital—twice—before finally turning to Mulago due to financial constraints.
“We started at IHK. Then we went to Nsambya twice. But the costs were insurmountable,” she said. “I’m a judge of the Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court. I couldn’t go around asking for money to look after my husband.”
Advocate John Kakooza will be buried today in Masaka.
In response to her remarks, Ministry of Health spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona said an audit will be conducted by Mulago hospital management.
“For now, let us allow the family to grieve,” Mr Ainebyoona told Daily Monitor. “However, the hospital will carry out an audit regarding the incident.”
