Kawolo Hospital Chokes on UGX 100m Powwr Bill

Kawolo Hospital is struggling to settle 100 Million shillings utility bill. This has left management worried of being disconnected by UMEME, the power distributors.

The hospital budgets for 10 million shillings for electricity every month. However, only shillings 2 million is approved.

The hospital records at least 450 patients at the outpatient department every day and about mothers 450 seeking antenatal delivery services.  

Dr Joshua Kiberu, the hospital medical superintendent notes that utility bill vote for the facility is insufficient. He adds that it is hard for the hospital to depend on the operational budget since it is also limited.

The hospital budgets for about shillings 750 million as operational budget for Primary Health Care-PHC though they are receiving shillings 260 million annually excluding budget for drugs which the hospital budgets for shillings 800 million and currently receiving 540 million per month.

According to Dr Kiberu, the challenge of inadequate funding for utility bills has been brought to the attention of the Ministry of Health.

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Kawolo hospital has been undergoing refurbishment of dilapidated buildings. Two more theatres equipped with modern equipment have been constructed and require excess power.

Steven Sselubula a resident at Kawolo Division says that such government facilities need to be exempted from power bills.

“Government cares less about improving health services, setting up a big facility without functioning equipment is comparable to a school without pupils. This is the facility that receives a big number of people and so it needs a quick redress” 

Luganda Byte 

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Margret Nabasumba a cleaner at the facility says that sometimes doctors operate patients on torches for light when there is a blackout, putting the lives of the patients at risk.