A dispute between Bududa District authorities and residents over plans to fence Bulucheke Health Centre IV remains unresolved after a community dialogue failed to reach agreement on access to homes near the facility.
The district began fencing the health centre in response to repeated reports of theft and vandalism of equipment and other property. Authorities say the fence is intended to strengthen security and protect the facility’s infrastructure.
Some residents, however, oppose the plan, arguing that the proposed boundary would block a road they have traditionally used to access their homes.
The disagreement prompted a community dialogue at the health centre on Tuesday, bringing together district officials, health workers and affected residents. The meeting ended without a resolution.
Moses Bikala, the Local Council I chairman of Shiluku Village, where the health centre is located, said residents understood the need to improve security but could not accept losing access to their homes. “We support the development of the health centre, but we also need access to our homes. There must be a solution that allows the two to coexist,” Bikala said.
Charles Walimbwa, the former Local Council III chairman for Greater Bulucheke, urged the district to follow guidelines governing health facilities while finding an alternative route that would not disadvantage residents.
However, Bududa Resident District Commissioner Solome Juliet Namara said the district would not allow a road to pass through the health centre premises, arguing that the existing arrangement had contributed to theft and vandalism.
Namara asked residents to accept an alternative route being opened by the district, saying separating the access road from the health centre would create a more secure environment for patients, staff and facility property.
But Kasim Bikala, a community representative, said residents were not opposed to improving security. Their concern, he said, was how they would reach their homes once the existing road was closed.
He rejected the proposed alternative route, saying some landowners along the proposed route were also opposed because they would lose portions of their land.
Dr Rashid Simuya, the health centre’s officer in charge, supported the fencing, saying it would address persistent theft of property belonging to the facility and staff living within the health centre premises.
He said some residents appeared to be focusing on the access road without fully appreciating the security challenges facing the facility.
Dr Alex Mushiso Kakala, the Bududa District Health Officer, said the district would continue engaging residents to secure their support for the fencing project, which he described as critical to improving security and protecting health infrastructure.
Martin Max Mukula, the acting chief administrative officer of Bududa District, said the health centre belongs to the community and urged residents to cooperate with the district over the proposed alternative access route.
Mukula asked residents to identify specific concerns about the proposed route so that the district could assess and address them.
He said guidelines governing health facilities do not allow public roads to pass through health facility premises and require access routes to be located away from such facilities. He appealed for calm as consultations continue.
Gilbert Mushangu, the Bududa District Local Council V vice chairperson, said he remained optimistic that the dispute could be resolved in a way that protects the interests of both the health centre and affected residents.
He said both secure health services and access to homes were important to the community and urged the district and residents to consider the concerns of all stakeholders before agreeing on a final arrangement. Bulucheke Health Centre IV serves more than 3,000 people from nine sub-counties.
The dispute leaves the district with a difficult balancing act: securing health infrastructure from theft and vandalism while ensuring residents retain reliable access to their homes.
For now, the two sides remain divided, with the district insisting that the health centre must be secured and residents calling for an alternative route that does not simply transfer the access problem to other landowners.
