Official commends Masindi residents for efforts to build health centre
MASINDI, July 8, 2025 — Grace Mary Akiror, Deputy Head of the Resident District Commissioners RDCs] has commended the residents of Kigulya Division in Masindi Municipality for their efforts to construct a health centre using community resources.
Akiror, who is currently touring the Bunyoro sub-region to assess service delivery, urged the Masindi leadership to ensure that the government officially takes over the facility to provide formal healthcare services.
During her visit to Masindi, Akiror toured various government projects and made a stop at Kigulya Division to inspect the health facility under construction by local residents.
According to Wilfred Kutegeka, LCIII Chairperson for Kigulya Division, the project began in 2019 after a resident donated 1.5 acres of land for the facility.
“We began the construction with the hope that the government would meet us halfway. We hired our own contractor and have so far spent Shs 30 million to reach the roofing stage. But we are now stuck due to a lack of funds,” Kutegeka explained.
He added that the community meets all the criteria required for a Health Centre III, including land ownership and population size. However, they still need an estimated Shs 50 million to complete the structure.
“The land is titled and free from encumbrances. My appeal to the government is to consider elevating this facility to Health Centre III status. In the meantime, I urge residents to continue contributing whatever they can as we await government support. Leaders should also come to our rescue—we currently have no health facility in this division. Government must fulfil its policy of establishing a Health Centre III in every sub-county,” he said.
Akiror lauded the community’s commitment and encouraged other areas to draw inspiration from Kigulya’s example.
“I want to commend this community for their impressive initiative. This is excellent work and should not go to waste. Such efforts must be recognised. The LCIII Chairperson should formally write to the RDC’s office, which will in turn forward the request to the Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office and copy the Ministry of Health for proper follow-up,” Akiror advised.
Masindi RDC Darius Nandinda acknowledged the significance of the community’s initiative and said urgent action is needed.
“The community has challenged the leadership of Masindi Municipality by taking matters into their own hands. A crisis meeting should be called to ensure the government takes over this facility,” Nandinda urged.
Community and leaders fundraise
According to engineers, constructing a Health Centre III in Uganda typically costs between Shs 650 million and Shs 2.5 billion, depending on design, size, and additional features.
Technocrats raise challenges
During a meeting with Akiror at the district headquarters, technocrats outlined several challenges affecting service delivery. These included: Staffing shortages at Masindi Hospital, where Dr Rogers Musinguzi, the Medical Superintendent, reported staffing at only 40 percent capacity; lack of a road maintenance unit in Masindi Municipality to manage its road network; delays in constructing the modern Masindi market; and inadequate funding for local governments, especially for road works
Background
It has been over 15 years since Kigulya Division was established in Masindi Municipality, but it has never had a government health facility, despite national policy requiring each division or sub-county to have at least a Health Centre III.
Residents say they largely rely on Village Health Teams [VHTs] or have to walk nearly 10 kilometres to the nearest facilities in Masindi Town, Kigezi Health Centre II in Miirya Sub-county, or Nyakitibwa Health Centre III in Karujubu Division.
Kigulya is one of the most rural divisions in Masindi Municipality and was created in 2010. It currently has a population of over 20,000 people, according to the latest census.
Grace Birungi, a resident of Kigulya Cell, said mothers are the most affected by the lack of healthcare services.
“VHTs in this division are forced to act as midwives, nurses, and doctors. We get called at night, have no transport or lighting, and lack proper medical training. But we do it because we have no health centre. This facility would change everything,” she said.
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
