By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa, Umoja Standard.
Jinja City: The Uganda Human Rights Commission’s Directorate of Monitoring and Inspections on Monday conducted an inspection of Jinja Regional Referral Hospital to assess the state of service delivery and the right to health.
Led by Caretaker Ms. Pauline Mutumba, the team was joined by staff from the UHRC Jinja Regional Office headed by Regional Human Rights Officer Mr. Farouk Nyende.
The delegation met Dr. Michael Mulowoza, who represented the hospital’s Senior Executive. He told inspectors that while the facility serves an estimated 4.5 million people from Jinja and surrounding districts, it is operating at just 32% of its required staffing levels.
The pressure is most acute in maternity, where about 80 expectant mothers are received daily but only five health workers are available to attend to them.
Dr. Mulowoza also reported persistently high cases of bilharzia in the catchment area, noting that community sensitization efforts remain constrained by limited resources.
While renovation works are underway at the hospital, officials said more infrastructure, adequate human resources, improved accessibility, and a multi-sectoral response are urgently needed to protect patients’ right to health.
The Commission is mandated by law to monitor health facilities and ensure the promotion and protection of the right to health across Uganda.
