By Chris Mugasha
There is a sigh of relief at Bushenyi district’s 86year old health facility after the family of Prof. Eli Katunguka’s intervention.
Katunguka who is the Kyambogo University’s vice chancellor on Saturday delivered two sets of modern hospital beds to Bushenyi health centre IV.
He handed over the beds to the facility’s authorities who were led by the Mayor Richard Byaruhanga. Receiving the beds, Byaruhanga applauded the Katunguka family for giving back to Bushenyi community.
“Such a donation is timely and it gives hope to our people especially the patients. Thank you for touching on what we needed most,” Byaruhanga said as he commended the Katungukas.
Katunguka said he decided to give back to the facility that has made many people who they are.
Byaruhanga said the facility has of recent attracted overwhelming numbers of patients due to its strategic location yet it has got a number of challenges raging from lack of space, a general ward and some equipments to make it run efficiently.
The Mayor decried the rate at which the process of accessing resources from the government has become hectic and complicated
According to Byaruhanga, as lower local governments, the issue of bureaucracy in government has crippled their efforts to deliver services to the people.
“Must a Mayor first run to Kampala to knock on every door for Bushenyi people to get services?”Byaruhanga asked.
Byaruhanga said it is unfortunate that government has got money/funds but if one does not have the capacity to go to Kampala and move from office to office to lobby, an area will not see anything coming.
“Why can’t government distribute the resources equitably and according to the needs of the people?” he wondered.
Byaruhanga said the health centre had been abandoned and left to deteriorate until when development partners like USAID came in to save the situation by revamping a number of things.
He explained that recently government had started to construct a general ward at the facility to cater for the increasing numbers but said the contractors have already abandoned the site. “We are worried the walls they had put up may collapse,” he said.
Katunguka said that with the rate at which Uganda’s population is increasing, both leaders and government must put up sustainable strategies and plans of sustaining the increasing population. Katunguka described Uganda’s population growth rate as the fastest in the World. “What you are calling lobbying comes in when the resources are not enough and everyone is craving for the scarce resources,” the Prof said.
Recently, Uganda conducted a population census and soon the Country’s population status will be unveiled.
Meanwhile Ijuumo Progressive secondary school from Mitooma District was over the weekend crowned the champions of Kyambogo university annual sports gala first edition.
The competition that attracted 13 schools from Greater Bushenyi region and the final played at Bushenyi District main stadium in Bushenyi Ishaka municipality saw Ijuumo beating Ruyonza School from Bushenyi District 1-0.
In the girls final Shuuku vocational from Sheema District beat Ntale high school also from Sheema 5-3 on penalties after 1-1 draw in the 90 minutes.
The other schools that participated in a four days tournament held at Bushenyi District Main stadium are Kyeitembe vocational secondary school, Mungonya secondary school, Rwakatende secondary school and Pioneer high school.
Katunguka said sports is one of the disciplines that helps learners to discover their full potential asking parents to allow their children to participate in different sports not only football.
