Health workers in Bududa Hospital are blaming the poor state of affairs at the hospital on political interference. Health workers who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity accuse John Baptist Nambashe, the Bududa district LC V chairperson of intimidation and harassment to poor delivery of health services. They claim Nambashe has been exerting unnecessary pressure on them since he assumed office last year making life hard for them.
They cite an incident last year when Nambashe tried to assault Dr. Peter Wakooba, the former Bududa District health Officer for allegedly failing to deliver as expected by his office. They also claimed that within the same period the LC V chairman incited relatives of an expected mother who was admitted at in the maternity wing to storm the ward and assault health workers on duty for allegedly failing to help the expectant mother to deliver faster.
The health workers say that they have been demoralized by the actions of the LC V chairman, adding that about three quarters of them have applied for transfer to other areas. Currently Bududa hospital is grappling with an acute shortage of medical workers, after several senior staff resigned their post citing political pressure. They include Dr. Godfrey Mulekwa, former Medical Superintendent Bududa Hospital and Dr. Peter Wakooba, the former district health officer.
They said some politicians in the district had made their work too difficult by persistently undermining their authorities. Hamza Kabale, the Bududa Hospital Senior Administrator recently told Uganda Radio Network that the staffing level is at 47%. He said they have only three newly graduated doctors and only about 30 percent of the nurses required for a facility of its size. Several attempts to get a comment from John Baptist Nambashe, the district LC V chairman over the accusations were futile as he kept making appointments for an interview with our reporter in vain.
He said he could not discuss the matter on phone. But in an earlier interview Nambashe told URN that Dr Wakwoba and Mulekwa had resigned because of ‘guilt’ because they were appearing on two pay rolls. Hamza Kabale, the Bududa Hospital acting senior Administrator could neither deny nor confirm the alleged political pressure by the district LC V chairperson on the health workers. He however says the staff is affected by the political rivalry between the incumbent and previous head of the council.
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He says the state of Bududa hospital is wanting. The 100-bed hospital that was established in 1969 serves hundreds of residents from Bududa, Manafwa, Sironko, Lwakhakha in the neighboring Kenya.
