By Brian Mugenyi Mugenyijj@gmail.com | Watchdog Uganda
KYANAMUKAKA, MASAKA — “Apart from the road project, we embarked on the healthcare system, specifically Kyanamukaka Health Centre IV.”
Speaking on Kyanamukaka’s transformation, Oscar Mutebi, a Private Secretary in the State House, quickly pivots from newly paved roads to the people relying on them. His message to the government is direct: upgrade Kyanamukaka Health Centre IV to full hospital status, expand maternity capacity, and bring primary care closer to hard-to-reach communities.
“We are appealing to the Ministry of Health, through Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, to upgrade Kyanamukaka Health Centre,” Mutebi says. He then lays bare the stark reality driving the appeal: “Mothers are giving birth on the floor.”
This is no longer a routine infrastructure debate. It is a critical issue of maternal dignity, emergency readiness, and safe childbirth.
841 Deliveries Under Pressure
Kyanamukaka Health Centre IV is straining under heavy demand. Uganda’s Annual Health Sector Performance Report (2023/24) recorded 841 deliveries, 1,774 admissions, 18,514 outpatient visits, and 108 Caesarean sections at the facility.
Handling an average of 70 deliveries a month, the facility is a vital lifeline. But as patient numbers surge, current infrastructure simply cannot keep pace with the mothers seeking care.
When Distance Threatens Lives
Mutebi notes that the facility serves distant outlying areas, including Namirembe, Buyaga, and nearby landing sites.
“If an ill patient is transported long distances from places like the landing site, complications arise along the way,” Mutebi explains.
In obstetric emergencies, delays can prove fatal. Labor does not wait for traffic, nor does blood loss wait for a referral letter. To bridge this gap, Mutebi is urging the government to establish lower-level Health Centre IIIs in Namirembe and Buyaga while elevating Kyanamukaka Health Centre IV to a hospital.
The sub-county’s population was recorded at 31,521 in the 2014 census and has grown substantially since. Mutebi argues that rural health infrastructure cannot remain frozen at yesterday’s capacity.
Ssekandi Backs the Cause
Former Vice President and Special Presidential Envoy Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has added significant weight to the call. In an official letter to Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Ssekandi urged immediate intervention.
“I congratulate you upon your leadership and remind you that Kyanamukaka Health Centre IV requires urgent attention and resources to support patients and delivering mothers,” Ssekandi wrote.
Mutebi emphasizes that Ssekandi’s advocacy stems from deep local roots: “Ssekandi fought for Bukoto Central. Even after active politics, Kyanamukaka remains close to his heart.”
The Road Is New; the Needs Remain
Recent development brought asphalt to Kyanamukaka Town Council roads. Smooth roads shorten transit times, but a paved road cannot provide a maternity bed, furnish a surgical theater, or supply emergency blood products. Development must be holistic: roads must lead to fully equipped facilities where health workers have the resources to save lives.
Where Promises Are Tested
Public health policy is ultimately judged at the bedside. The 841 births at Kyanamukaka last year represent 841 mothers who trusted the public system with their lives.
Mutebi’s blueprint is clear: upgrade the health center, bolster emergency services, and build satellite clinics in underserved landing sites.
The Ministry of Health now faces a decisive question: will rural healthcare investments match community growth? True development is not achieved when a road is paved—it is achieved when a mother travels that road, delivers her child in dignity, and returns home safely.
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