Residents of Bundibugyo are outraged after two infants died at Bundibugyo General Hospital when a power failure cut off their oxygen supply. The hospital, which has been operating without a functional X-ray machine for seven years, is now facing intense scrutiny over its deteriorating services.
The tragic deaths were revealed by Josephine Bebona, the District Woman Representative for Bundibugyo, during a February 20, 2025, plenary session in Parliament. She demanded answers from the Prime Minister, questioning when Bundibugyo General Hospital would receive the long-promised upgrade.
“Yesterday, Bundibugyo Hospital lost two babies because the generator was down. In 2014, the hospital was supposed to be rehabilitated alongside Yumbe and Kayunga under the BADEA project, but while those hospitals were commissioned in 2021, Bundibugyo was left behind. We have now gone seven years without a working X-ray machine. When will Bundibugyo finally be considered for rehabilitation?” – Bebona
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, citing her background as a former State Minister for Health – General Duties, acknowledged the crisis but gave no specific timeline for the hospital’s upgrade.
“I understand these issues well, and the government is rehabilitating hospitals in phases. Bugiri and Masindi are next in line, but Bundibugyo will also be renovated,” Nabbanja assured Parliament.
Her response did little to ease concerns, as residents and MPs continue to demand urgent intervention to prevent further loss of life.
Wave of School Fires Sparks Fear in Bundibugyo
Beyond the healthcare crisis, Bundibugyo is also grappling with a disturbing rise in school fires. Richard Gafabusa, MP for Bwamba County, urged the government to establish a firefighting station in the district after eight schools were torched within a year, most of them in Nyahuka Town Council.
“In just one week, two schools have burned down. Last week, Nyahuka Parents Secondary School was set ablaze in broad daylight. Yesterday, another fire destroyed property worth millions at a primary school. Yet, the nearest firefighting station is in Fort Portal—two and a half hours away. By the time help arrives, there’s nothing left to save,” Gafabusa lamented.
He called for urgent government intervention, including an investigation into the cause of the fires and the provision of firefighting equipment.
In response, Prime Minister Nabbanja urged Gafabusa to submit a formal request, promising to convene a multi-sectoral meeting next week with relevant ministries to address Bundibugyo’s security and safety concerns.
The original article was published on Parliament Watch
