A heated exchange erupted between Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, and Nakaseke Central MP Allan Mayanja Ssebunya over the allowances for Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs).
The clash occurred on Monday during the passing-out ceremony of 152 CHEWs at the Nakaseke District headquarters after six months of training.
CHEWs, who will be deployed at the parish level, work alongside Village Health Teams (VHTs) to promote disease prevention, conduct health education, and refer patients to health centers.
The program, funded by the World Bank, aims to strengthen Uganda’s community health system and improve access to healthcare.
In Nakaseke, UGX 2 billion was allocated for training, equipping, and paying allowances for CHEWs. During the ceremony, district leaders, including LC5 Chairman Ignatius Koomu and District Secretary for Health Richard Mavuma, urged the workers to use their new roles to promote President Yoweri Museveni, crediting him for creating employment opportunities. Mavuma even warned that any CHEW found opposing the president could be removed from the payroll.
However, MP Allan Mayanja Ssebunya criticized the politicization of the program, arguing that the CHEW National Policy was approved to benefit all Ugandans, regardless of political affiliation. He further claimed that each CHEW was entitled to UGX 370,000 per month—a statement that excited the CHEWs, who had previously been told they would receive only UGX 200,000.
Dr. Atwine dismissed the MP’s claims, clarifying that the CHEW program was approved by the Cabinet, not Parliament, and refuted the UGX 370,000 figure. She did not specify the exact amount but warned the health workers against impersonating medical professionals or illegally opening clinics.
“Do not pose as medical workers or open up clinics. If you do, we shall remove you from the program and arrest you for impersonation and operating illegally,” Atwine cautioned.
Later, Dr. Henry Mwebesa, Chairperson of the Health Service Commission, revealed that CHEWs would receive UGX 150,000 per month, far below what many had expected.
Each CHEW was given a bicycle, personal protective equipment (PPE), and a blood pressure machine to aid in their work. Nakaseke was selected for the pilot program due to its poor health service ranking—111th out of 147 districts—in the latest District Health League Table.
The CHEW program is currently being piloted in 11 districts, including Luwero, Nakaseke, Lwengo, Butaleja, Nakasongola, Kwania, Kween, Lira, and Mayuge.
