Category: Daily Monitor

The Ministry of Health has deployed 2,417 medical interns to health facilities across the country, paving the way for their long-awaited placements starting this August.

“The Uganda Medical Internship Committee (UMIC) Secretariat has completed the placement of medical interns for the internship period running from August 3, 2026, to July 31, 2027,” reads the notice to hospital leaders, undersigned by Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, the Director of Public Health, on behalf of the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry.

Dr Kyabayinze said the placement covers all eligible medical interns submitted by the respective professional councils.

The medical interns are from Makerere University, Kampala International University, Gulu University, Busitema University, Soroti University, Lira University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, among others.

“Accordingly, this letter forwards the list of medical interns placed at your respective hospitals for your information and necessary action,” Dr Kyabayinze stated.

The Ministry gave hospital leaders three instructions.

“Make the necessary arrangements to ensure the internship programme commences on time,” Dr Kyabayinze told the hospital leaders.

“Conduct a facility-level induction and orientation for all medical interns before they begin clinical duties,” he added.

The Ministry also asked them to submit the list of interns who have reported to their hospitals by August 14, 2026.

“All placed interns are required to report to their respective stations on August 3, 2026,” Dr Kyabayinze stated.

Information from the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) indicates that medical interns are essential to the country’s healthcare delivery, given the limited number of medical workers employed by the government.

Medical interns are graduates who have completed their medical degree programmes and undergo internship placements to qualify for a permanent practising licence, according to UMA.

The deployment also comes amid concerns over changes in government policy regarding the payment of allowances to medical interns in the country.

The Police in Luweero District have arrested two suspects and recovered three rolls of electric wire believed to have been vandalised from power installations across the Savannah Region.

A Toyota Starlet vehicle and a Bajaj motorcycle, which were being used by the suspects to ferry the materials, were also impounded and parked at Luweero Central Police Station, where the suspects are being held.

Police said on Thursday that last week’s arrest followed a tip-off arising from numerous vandalism of electrical infrastructure across the Savannah region, which has caused regular power outages in the area.

Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson ASP Sam Twiineamaziima explained that the operation targeted a hideout where the suspects reportedly collect the stolen materials before they are transported to Kampala.

“Preliminary inquiries indicate the recovered wire may have been cut from multiple locations across the Savannah Region and that buyers travelled from Kampala to collect the material,” ASP Twiineamazima said in a statement.

Two suspects, who are former employees of UMEME in greater Luweero, are also on the run in connection with the crime.

The operation, being manned by the Flying Squad Unit and Territorial Police, will reportedly extend to Kampala, where the chain for wider distribution and sale of the stolen electrical materials is being done.

Electricity vandalism remains a persistent challenge in Uganda, with cases of theft and destruction of power infrastructure often leading to costly outages and safety hazards for surrounding communities.

Nation Media Group (NMG)-Uganda is set to resume full operations exactly one month after it was shut down on June 28, bringing to an end weeks of disruption following a military operation that forced its television and radio stations off air and rendered its newspaper operations inaccessible.

The reopening follows a series of high-level engagements involving President Museveni, first son and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and NMG majority shareholder Rostam Azizi, the Tanzanian businessman whose investment vehicle, Taifa Limited, this year acquired a controlling 54.08 percent stake in NMG, East Africa’s largest independent media conglomerate.

Announcing the planned resumption of operations, Nation Media Group PLC Chairman Joe Muganda said the media house would progressively restore services across its television, print, radio and digital platforms.

“As we return to serving you, our focus remains the delivery of trusted and balanced journalism across all our platforms,” Muganda said in a Tuesday statement.

He added: “We appreciate the patience and understanding shown by our audiences, clients and partners during this period and appreciate your continued trust and confidence in our brands.”

In a separate statement, Taifa Group, welcomed the reopening as it reaffirmed its backing for the company’s editorial mission.

“As the majority shareholder of NMG, we fully support the Group’s commitment to fair, balanced, independent and responsible journalism that informs, educates and contributes positively to public discourse. We share the Group’s core mission of positively influencing society and believe that a strong, professional and responsible media plays an important role in supporting national development, good governance and regional integration,” the company said.

Taifa Group added: “This decision demonstrates the value of dialogue, mutual respect and regional cooperation. Taifa Group will continue investing in opportunities that create jobs, strengthen institutions and advance shared prosperity across East Africa.”

NMG’s operations were disrupted shortly after midnight on June 28 when security personnel raided the Daily Monitor premises in Namuwongo and the Kampala Serena International Conference Centre, home to the NTV and Spark TV broadcast studios.

The operation resulted in a power outage that forced NTV Uganda and Spark TV off air at 5am that Sunday, while also disrupting operations across the media group’s television and newspaper platforms, as well as its radio stations, 93.3 KFM and 90.4 Dembe FM.m

The affected NMG premises were rendered inaccessible to hundreds of staff following the crackdown.

The shutdown was instituted on the orders of Gen Muhoozi, citing guidance from President Museveni.

Gen Muhoozi said the action was prompted by what he described as a “sustained blackmail campaign by the media group against the government of Uganda and its leadership, alongside promoting opposition and foreign interests at the expense of Uganda.”

As negotiations gathered pace, NMG on June 30 internally suspended its online presence to create a conducive environment for high-level discussions aimed at resolving the impasse.

On July 1, Azizi met Gen Muhoozi at the Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe. The meeting was also attended by Saam Azizi and Ms Georgia Mutagaywa, Chief of Staff of Taarifa Limited, as discussions over the future of the media house continued.

Another breakthrough followed on July 17 when President Museveni hosted Azizi at State House Entebbe.

While the President confirmed the meeting in a post on X, he did not disclose what the two discussed. The meeting nevertheless fuelled speculation that a resolution was imminent.

When this reporter visited the Kampala Serena International Conference Centre on July 15, security remained visibly tight.

About 15 armed infantry personnel were deployed around the premises, with at least two carrying what appeared to be sub-machine guns.

It was not immediately clear when the elite forces that led the June 28 operation handed over responsibility for securing the premises to the infantry personnel.

Neither was it immediately clear when the remaining soldiers would withdraw from the Namuwongo and Serena premises for full resumption of operations.

Throughout the shutdown, access to NMG’s Namuwongo headquarters and Serena offices remained tightly restricted, with journalists and other staff unable to freely access their workplaces.

The closure drew concern from regional media organisations and press freedom advocates, who called for restraint and urged authorities to safeguard media freedom.

NMG Uganda, which has identified itself as “Uganda’s Bold Voice” since the run-up to the 2026 General Election, operates NTV Uganda, the Daily Monitor, The East African, Spark TV, 93.3 KFM, 90.4 Dembe FM, Ennyanda newspaper and the Nation Courier, among other media platforms.

The resumption of operations will mark the end of one of the most significant confrontations between the Ugandan state and the country’s largest independent media organisation in more than a decade.

Every Ugandan who pays taxes contributes to the roads we drive on, the schools our children attend, the hospitals we depend on and public buildings.

Infrastructure should therefore be judged not only by the assets it leaves behind, but also by the local economic capacity it builds during construction.

There is an uncomfortable paradox in our infrastructure economy.

Uganda mobilises public resources to finance national development, yet a significant share of the value created during construction often flows through foreign contractors, imported technologies, supply chains and offshore financing.

The road remains in Uganda, but too much of the opportunity created while building it does not remain with Ugandan firms.

This is not an argument against foreign contractors. Every economy benefits from international participation, competition and higher standards.

The real question is whether Uganda is deliberately using infrastructure spending to build local companies able to take an increasing share of the country’s own development.

For years, local contractors have correctly argued that lack of affordable capital is a major obstacle.

Construction is uniquely demanding because contractors mobilise equipment, purchase materials, recruit labour and execute work long before receiving full payment.

When payments for completed public works delay, working capital is locked up, bank obligations accumulate and the cost of money becomes part of construction.

This is why affordable financing remains necessary. A local contractor borrowing at expensive commercial rates cannot compete fairly with foreign firms that may access cheaper capital.

However, capital alone will not transform local contractors into enduring construction companies. Under current conditions, more credit can even magnify risk if it enters a company with weak records, poor cashflow discipline and limited governance systems.

Uganda’s local construction industry must therefore build four pillars together: Market Access, Affordable Capital, Management Formalisation and Industrial Capability.

These are not slogans; they are practical foundations for building competitive firms.

Market access is the first pillar because no contractor grows without work. Companies build capacity by executing projects, learning from them and gradually taking on larger assignments.

Procurement systems should therefore create genuine pathways for capable local contractors to graduate from smaller works to more complex national projects.

Affordable Capital is the second pillar because construction cannot grow on enthusiasm alone.

Contractors need patient finance to mobilise resources, acquire equipment, retain skilled teams and manage long cashflow cycles. Yet finance must be treated as fuel, not the engine itself.

Management Formalisation is the third pillar, and perhaps the most neglected. Many Ugandan contractors are technically capable, but technical experience alone is no longer enough.

Banks, insurers, clients and regulators look for financial records, contract administration systems, quality plans, safety procedures, equipment registers, claims documentation, statutory compliance and corporate governance. These systems make companies bankable, auditable and resilient.

This is where industry associations like the Local Contractors Forum must redefine their role. Instead of speaking for contractors only during crises, they should help members build systems that prevent crisis.

A practical Governance Starter Kit, with procedures, financial templates, contract tools, quality documentation, safety manuals and governance guidelines, would help firms formalise without each one reinventing the wheel. That is institutional parenting.

Industrial Capability is the fourth pillar. Every project should leave a company stronger than before through better skills, stronger equipment capacity, improved systems, deeper supplier relationships and greater productivity.

If projects only produce short-term income, the industry remains trapped in transaction mode rather than graduating into industrial competence.

These four pillars reinforce one another. Market access creates opportunity, affordable capital enables mobilisation, management formalisation creates control, and industrial capability builds competitiveness.

Uganda has invested heavily in infrastructure, and the next phase should be measured not only by kilometres of roads or buildings commissioned, but also by strong Ugandan companies created in the process. Infrastructure should build institutions alongside assets.

On a warm June afternoon in Butenga, Isingiro District, a community gathered to mark a rare and quietly astonishing milestone: 75 years of marriage between John Mark Bamureba, 103, and Mary Nakasiya, 93.

At 103, Bamureba carries himself like a man who has made peace with time. His memory remains remarkably sharp, holding fast to the long arc of his life. His wife, now frail and unable to speak, uses a wheelchair and is tenderly cared for by a helper and a nurse.

From humble beginnings

Bamureba’s story began in 1923 in Itojo, Rwampara. He was born to Peresi Ntungwako, a local priest, and his wife, Ntungwako. At five years old, he was sent to live with his grandmother, the late Rebecca Aribawulide, at Ruharo Hill in Mbarara Town. Bishop Fred Mwesigwa of Ankole Diocese notes that Aribawulide was a prominent lay leader at Ruharo Church of Uganda-now the diocese’s headquarters.

‘The records about my birth and age are clear because my father had attained some education under missionaries, was a priest, and kept a record of this,’ Bamureba explains.

His education began at an elementary vernacular school in Ruharo. However, in Primary Three, a severe illness struck his right foot, forcing him to leave school. He was taken to Tanzania, where missionaries operated on him. Following his recovery, he returned to the classroom, eventually completing his Primary Seven in Kabwohe.

After finishing school, Bamureba returned to Ruharo and joined a skills programme offering tailoring, carpentry, and building. He chose pottery, though the craft was later dropped from the curriculum. While living with his grandmother, his sharp demeanor caught the attention of local missionaries.

‘I was very smart and disciplined, and those missionaries were good friends of my grandmother,’ he recalls. ‘During that time, I stayed home doing casual work.’

Climbing the ranks

Having learned some English during primary school and his pottery course, Bamureba seized an opportunity when an interpreter position opened up.

Ambitious to become an office secretary, he later approached a friend-an inspector of schools-to help him connect with the District Commissioner (DC). Instead, the inspector introduced him to the visiting Assistant District Commissioner (ADC). Impressed by Bamureba’s smart and intelligent presentation, the ADC granted him an interview.

A month later, Bamureba was offered a job-not as a secretary, but as a messenger earning a meager five cents. Undeterred, he kept his dream alive by learning secretarial skills on the job.

‘The secretary I worked with taught me how to file letters, read, and reply to correspondence,’ he says. His diligence paid off; he was eventually promoted to secretary, and his salary rose to 12 cents.

A courtship built on faith

By 1950, encouraged by the prayers of his mother and grandmother, Bamureba began thinking seriously about marriage. A friend told him about three eligible young women. As a committed churchgoer, Bamureba selected the one he found most suitable: Mary.

The courtship required persistence. His first letter to her went unanswered, but his second brought a positive response. His grandmother knew Mary’s family and gladly gave her blessing. Bamureba notes that, unlike today, families back then were strict and thoroughly vetted marriage matches.

The wedding day

The couple wed on February 6, 1951. Coming from a humble background, organizing the wedding was a massive hurdle. Paying the bride price, buying a gown, and securing transport were constant worries. Fortunately, his father reused a cow received from his sister’s earlier dowry to pay Mary’s bride price, though he warned Bamureba that no further financial help would be coming.

The challenges didn’t stop there. They had to borrow shoes for the bride because no suitable size could be found, and Bamureba borrowed his wedding suit. Vehicles were scarce; he managed to hire a lorry to transport the main party 35 kilometers from Ruharo to his father’s home in Ndeija. A friend lent them a Volkswagen for the bride and her aunt, while the rest of the entourage walked seven kilometers to Ruharo.

Despite the constraints, the wedding was a joyful success and remains one of Bamureba’s most cherished memories.

Secrets to a 75-year union

When asked what has kept them together for three-quarters of a century, Bamureba credits God’s grace and their shared faith. He was saved in 1971, while his wife had accepted Christ even earlier.

‘We stayed in love because of forgiveness, endurance, compassion, respect, and care-all Godly values for marriage,’ he explains. ‘If you are bound by the love of God, you live in harmony. My wife and I loved each other equally.’

“The idea of ‘I am the man; this is my home’ does not work. If you knew you were a man, why bring her in? Marriage roles are complementary.” – John Mark Bamureba

He also warns against the dangers of financial secrecy. “One thing destroying families today is not being open about income. That breeds suspicion and mistrust. My wife and I have always been completely open about our finances, savings, and investments.”

Advice for the next generation

Bamureba urges modern couples to avoid material comparison. Living among wealthy families in the Ankole kingdom, he and his wife chose humility. When his wife occasionally desired the expensive clothes she saw others wearing, he would gently remind her of their priorities.

“I reminded her that we were of humble means and competing would jeopardize our children’s education. She understood, and that is how we managed to educate all of them. Today, they are doing well and looking after us.”

He advises young people against rushing into commitments. ‘Today, people meet in markets, bars, or on the streets and quickly rush into marriage. That is why many marriages do not last.’

Legacy and health

Today, Bamureba follows a disciplined daily routine. He wakes up for prayers at 6:00 AM, greets his wife, has breakfast at 8:00 AM, and sits in the sun at 10:00 AM. After lunch at 1:00 PM, he naps until 4:00 PM. Following dinner at 8:00 PM, he joins the family for evening prayers at 10:00 PM before retiring for the night.

Bishop Mwesigwa attributes the couple’s incredible longevity to their deep-rooted faith, noting that the Ankole Diocese celebrated 219 couples who had crossed the 50-year marriage milestone in 2022 alone.

Their son, David Bamureba, also points to their healthy lifestyle.

‘They eat local food and vegetables and are very careful about their diet. Mzee constantly listens to radio programmes on health and nutrition, adapting to whatever advice resonates with him.’

A retired police officer has told the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court that 12 rolls of curtain material allegedly stolen from businessman Hajji Sulaiman Lwabuuka Kasule were recovered from a shop belonging to Kalungu East MP Yusuf Kiruuruta Junior Nkeretanyi.

The revelation came on Tuesday as retired Assistant Inspector of Police Joy Mary Nakku testified before Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa in the ongoing theft trial involving the legislator and four co-accused persons charged with handling stolen property.

Nakku, 59, who retired from the police force in August 2022, told court she was attached to the Special Investigations Division [SID] in Kireka and headed the team that investigated the alleged theft of curtain materials, rods and accessories valued at over Shs3 billion.

‘On January 20, 2022, I was allocated a file to investigate circumstances under which curtain materials with pipes and rods had been stolen from his stores [Hajji Lwabuuka],’ Ms. Nakku testified.

She said the complainant, Hajji Lwabuuka, reported that the thefts had occurred at his stores at Eagle Plaza in Kiyembe and at his residence in Bweya, Kajjansi.

According to Ms. Nakku, Hajji Lwabuuka told investigators he had gradually discovered that stock was disappearing from his business and later suspected that his wife, Shamira Nakachwa, had connived with his brother-in-law, Hamza Mugumuya, to steal the materials and sell them to traders in Kiyembe, Kampala.

‘He led us to some suspected traders at Eagle Plaza to whom the materials were sold,’ Ms. Nakku told court.

The witness said investigators subsequently conducted searches at various shops identified by the complainant.

‘He then led us to the shop of Nkeretanyi, where I conducted a search and recovered 12 rolls of curtain material,’ she testified.

Asked how the materials were identified, Nakku said both the complainant and Nkeretanyi claimed ownership of the recovered goods.

‘They were identified by the complainant, but Nkeretanyi also claimed ownership. We agreed, as a way of marking them, that both put their signatures on them,’ she said.

The marked rolls bearing signatures of Nkeretanyi and Hajji Lwabuuka have been displayed in court.

The witness added that search warrants documenting the recovery were signed by both parties.

Ms Nakku further told court that investigators searched another shop operated by businessman Mr Ivan Zziwa, and a subsequent search at another business premises linked to Abdul-Noor yielded five additional rolls of curtain material.

Following the recoveries, police arrested Nkeretanyi, Mugumuya, Abdul-Noor, Zziwa, Tamale John and others before taking them to SID headquarters in Kireka.

‘I took the recovered materials and arrested Nkeretanyi, Mugumuya Hamza, Abdul-Noor, Tamale John and Zziwa Ivan and took them to SID,’ she testified.

During the proceedings, Chief Magistrate Kidasa admitted the recovered curtain materials and related exhibit slips into evidence after ruling that the prosecution had established an unbroken chain of custody.

‘The unbroken sequence satisfies the requirement for chain of custody. Minor procedural irregularities do not break the chain of custody,’ the magistrate ruled.

Ms Nakku also told court that when questioned, Mr Nkeretanyi maintained that the curtain materials in his possession had been ordered from suppliers in Nairobi and China.

‘He told me he was ordering his materials on WhatsApp from Nairobi and China. He did not avail me any receipts or particular documents for the goods,’ she said.

The witness further testified that investigators visited Hajji Lwabuuka’s residence and established that CCTV cameras installed at the home were allegedly switched off whenever thefts occurred.

‘He suspected that his wife would switch off the cameras since the control system was in their master bedroom,’ Ms Nakku told court.

She also revealed that a child at the residence told investigators she had seen Mugumuya and Zziwa visiting the home in Lwabuuka’s absence and loading materials into vehicles after the stores had been opened.

Ms Nakku said Hajji Lwabuuka estimated the value of the stolen items at approximately Shs3 billion, although she retired before receiving the final audit report.

The case stems from allegations that curtain materials worth billions of shillings were systematically stolen from Hajji Lwabuuka’s stores and later sold to traders in Kampala.

Nkeretanyi, Nakachwa and their co-accused have denied the charges. The hearing continues on August 11.

Former Ethics and Integrity Minister Miria Matembe, 73, has been charged with promoting sectarianism and remanded to Luzira Prison.

Matembe appeared before Grade One Magistrate Sheilla Gloria Atim at Luzira Magistrate’s Court and denied the charge brought by the state.

According to the charge sheet, she is accused of promoting sectarianism contrary to Section 38(1)(d) of the Penal Code Act.

Prosecution alleges that in June 2026, while appearing on DK TV Uganda, Matembe made statements likely to promote hostility, hatred or ill will against members of the Banyankole tribe.

The state alleges that Matembe stated that ‘all our taxes are being spent on the Banyankole women ministers,’ remarks which prosecutors say were likely to incite hostility against members of the tribe.

The charge sheet identifies Matembe as a businesswoman and resident of Luzira in Nakawa East, Kampala.

Following her plea, Matembe’s legal team, led by Uganda Law Society Vice President Anthony Asiimwe, together with lawyers Samuel Muyizi and Steven Kalali, applied for bail.

The defence argued that Matembe was unwell and required urgent medical attention, urging court to consider her health condition.

However, Magistrate Atim declined to entertain the application, saying no medical evidence had been presented.

‘There is no evidence before court to show that the accused person is unwell,’ the magistrate ruled.

Ms Atim further held that it was too late in the day to hear and determine the bail application, and adjourned the matter to Wednesday, July 1, 2026, for a formal bail hearing.

‘The bail application will be heard tomorrow,’ the magistrate said before ordering that the accused be remanded.

The ruling means Matembe will spend at least one night on remand at Luzira Prison as she awaits the hearing of her bail application.

The case adds to a growing number of prosecutions under laws criminalising sectarian statements, which authorities say are intended to safeguard national unity and prevent speech capable of inciting ethnic hostility.

An overnight fire has gutted an electrical shop in Mbarara City, leaving one person dead and destroying equipment worth millions of shillings.

The inferno at Bishop Wills building on Garage Street in Kakoba Division caused the death of the owner, Fred Tumusiime, 55, who was in the shop at the time of the incident.

Rwizi Region Police Spokesperson SP Samson Kasasira said the resident of Nyakaizi, Kakoba Division, sustained severe burn injuries and was rushed to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead on Tuesday morning.

‘After we put out the fire, we found out that the owner of the shop, whose name is Fred Tumusiime, was in the shop at the time of the fire.”

Explaining that: ”He sustained serious burns and was critically injured and rushed to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital by well wishes that got to the scene before us, and as we speak as of today morning he was pronounced dead at around 10 a.m. today.’

Police, Fire Rescue and Services managed to extinguish the fire before it spread to nearby buildings; however, the electrical shop was reduced to ashes.

Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, SP Kasasira said.

Geoffrey Atwine’s daughter is training in midwifery at a private health institution in western Uganda. Like many parents, he wants her to complete the course and gain practical experience.

But the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Act’s new centralized assessment fees have thrown those plans into doubt.

‘Parents such as Atwine fear they may struggle to cope with the growing financial demands associated with health training under the new TVET framework,’ the concern reflects a wider pushback from learners and private institutions.

Uganda’s TVET reforms began with the 2019 policy and became law in December 2024. The Act took effect in March 2026, shifting health training to a modular, competency-based assessment model designed to test practical skills, not just final exams.

Private health training institutions say the model is sound in principle, but costly in practice.

‘We are therefore calling on all stakeholders to undertake reforms to the assessment fees. Otherwise, the country could face a decline in the number of health workers graduating from these training institutions,’ says Andrew Mugisha, General Secretary of the Uganda Private Health Training Institutions Association [UPHITA].

Under the new framework, learners pay tuition, about Shs35,000 in annual development fees, and Shs100,000 in maintenance fees. On top of that are assessment charges of between Shs200,000 and Shs230,000 per semester.

A recent survey by Dr. Gorrette Nalwadda Kayondo found Ugandan students pay far more than peers in the region. Kenyans pay about KSh2,000-KSh5,000 per semester, Ghanaians US$10-US$24, and South Africans US$43-US$65.

‘Whereas many countries integrate assessment costs into broader training frameworks, Uganda’s model places a more direct financial obligation on learners through recurring assessment charges,’ Kayondo notes.

The structure matters: students in Kenya, Ghana and South Africa typically pay professional assessment fees once, at qualification. In Uganda, a certificate student can pay for up to six external assessments, averaging about Shs480,000 a year.

Joseph Abala Mundu argues the levy should match the purpose of the exams.

‘If these examinations are conducted once as a qualification requirement, the levy should likewise be a one-time charge rather than a recurrent cost imposed on students throughout their training,’ he says.

Dr. Safinah Musene, Commissioner for Health Education and Training at the Ministry of Education and Sports, says the changes aim to improve quality assurance and regulation.

‘Previously, we may not have been doing this very well because the Ministry was handling all the functions, including training delivery and assessment. Now, we are saying let us improve the current regulation under the TVET Act 2025,’ Dr. Musene explains.

For Atwine and other parents, that is a potential ‘ray of hope.’ The question now is when the Ministry will revise the regulations to ease the cost burden and keep health training within reach.

Patients requiring specialised brain and spinal surgery at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital continue to face challenges as the facility operates without a qualified neurosurgeon, hospital management has said.

Hospital officials say the regional referral facility requires at least three neurosurgeons to meet growing demand for specialised services.

However, it currently relies on a general surgeon who received on-the-job neurosurgical training at Mulago National Referral Hospital to manage complex cases referred from Busoga and neighbouring regions.

Speaking on Monday, the hospital’s Senior Executive Consultant, Dr. Alfred Yayi, said the current arrangement is inadequate.

‘We currently do not have a qualified neurosurgeon. The doctor handling neurosurgical cases is a general surgeon who received on-the-job training at Mulago National Referral Hospital. However, the hospital needs at least three neurosurgeons to provide quality specialised care to our patients,’ Dr. Yayi said.

The revelation comes after a 10-day free medical camp by specialist Turkish doctors at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. Patients who had been mobilised for neurosurgical services could not be treated because the visiting team did not include a neurosurgeon.

The camp was organised through a partnership between Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and a team of Turkish medical specialists, facilitated by former Jinja City Woman MP Ms. Manjeri Kyebakutika, among other partners.

It also provided an opportunity for 40 health workers to observe and participate in plastic surgeries and other specialised procedures as part of hands-on training in surgical techniques and the use of medical equipment.

Dr. Edwin Musinguzi, Senior Medical Consultant and Head of Surgery at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, said 2,323 patients were screened during the camp, with 100 undergoing major surgical procedures.

He said 300 patients also underwent minor surgical procedures and are responding well to treatment. Some have since been discharged to homes in the Busoga sub-region and central Buganda, while others remain under observation.

He said the Turkish team carried out reconstructive plastic surgeries, including removal of facial and neck keloids, and operated on patients with nerve and other tumours.

The team also treated patients with eye conditions and those requiring ear, nose and throat [ENT] care, in addition to performing hypospadias repair surgeries.

‘We are very grateful to the Turkish medical team for coming to support our patients. Many of those who had been referred for specialised care have received treatment, and some have already been discharged after successful procedures,’ Dr. Musinguzi said.

Representing the Minister for Presidency, Ms. Suzan Kulaba conveyed Ms. Milly Babalanda Babirye’s appreciation to the Turkish team for providing free specialised surgeries and restoring hope to patients.

She urged the team to strengthen its partnership with Uganda by offering training opportunities for Ugandan doctors, supporting knowledge exchange, and returning for future medical camps, including in Buyende District.