A surprise inspection by Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi in Kanungu District has raised questions about priorities in public health facilities, following reports that a pool table was found at a hospital while the district’s healthcare system faces concerns over inadequate maternity beds and other service-delivery challenges.
Balaam was in Kanungu on Tuesday, October 27, as part of the government’s anti-corruption and service-delivery inspection tour of the Kigezi sub-region.
The pool table discovery has drawn attention to the use of space and resources in a public health facility, although the Ministry of Local Government’s published reports do not specify where the table was found, who owned it or whether it was being used by hospital staff or patients.
The pool table was found inside the outpatient dispensary of Kambuga Hospital.
The ministry’s reports separately confirm that Balaam visited Kambuga Hospital and Kanungu Health Centre IV at Kataate during the tour.
Mothers Forced to Share Beds or Sleep on Floor
The most serious concerns emerged at Kanungu Health Centre IV Kataate Hospital, where the facility’s in-charge told the minister that the maternity ward lacked sufficient beds and space for mothers who had just given birth.
According to the Ministry of Local Government, some mothers are forced to share beds or sleep on mattresses on the floor with their newborn babies because of the shortage.
The facility reportedly conducts several deliveries daily and serves as a referral centre for lower health centres in the district, putting additional pressure on its available infrastructure.
The shortage raises concerns about the conditions in which mothers and newborns recover after delivery, when adequate space and proper care are essential.
“Every mother deserves a safe environment in which to give life. We cannot have mothers delivering on beds and then sleeping on the floor. Value for money must be seen in the maternity ward,” Balaam was quoted as saying by the ministry.
Balaam Orders Follow-Up on Hospital Challenges
The minister promised to engage Kanungu District leaders, the District Health Officer and the Ministry of Health to address the shortage of beds and accelerate the hospital’s development project.
He also reviewed documentation relating to the public-private partnership project at Kataate to establish whether public funds allocated to the facility had been properly utilised.
The inspection formed part of Balaam’s broader campaign to expose corruption, improve accountability and ensure that government resources translate into better public services.
Kambuga Hospital Gets Praise
At Kambuga Hospital, Balaam reportedly stopped to have his blood pressure checked and commended the facility for its cleanliness and the commitment of its health workers.
He also observed that there were no patients waiting in a queue at the time of his visit and said the facility’s drug stores were well-stocked.
The ministry presented the observations as positive indicators of service delivery at the hospital.
The contrasting reports from the two facilities underscore the importance of examining not only the availability of medicines and the cleanliness of hospitals, but also whether their infrastructure meets the needs of patients.
