Shs2.7 billion request for Supervision of Lubowa Hospital Works Rejected

The Committee on Budget has rejected a supplementary request of Shs2.7 billion by the Ministry of Health to supervise the construction of the Lubowa International Specialized hospital.

This is upon the recommendation of the Committee on Health that on Thursday appeared before the Budget Committee to defend the supplementary requests for different sectors. The MPs on the committee chaired by Hon Ignatius Mudiimi Wamakuyu rejected the request from Ministry of Health demanding that the ministry first provides a comprehensive report on the status of the hospital.

“We don’t know the current status of Lubowa hospital. We can’t continue to provide resources for things that are not progressing,” Otuke County MP Paul Omara said.

Padyere County MP Isaac Otimgiw who presented the report before the budget committee on behalf of the Committee on Health said their attempts to persuade the minister of health to present a status report of Lubowa hospital have fallen on deaf ears. He led the crusade to reject the supplementary reject saying attempts to do a site visit to Lubowa hospital have been frustrating.

The ministry has also requested for Shs3.6 billion for rehabilitation and expansion of Busolwe Hospital, Shs6 billion for repair and maintenance of oxygen plants, Shs176 billion for purchase of Covid-19 vaccines and Shs8 billion to clear outstanding allowances for Covid-19 staff.

In the 10th Parliament, MPs were blocked and chased from the construction site by security in their bid to conduct their oversight role. In 2022, finance committee visited the site but were dismayed to find works still at foundation level three years later. 

In March 2019, parliament approved the request by the ministry of Finance to issue promissory notes for the construction of Lubowa Hospital to a tune of $379.71m (about Shs 1.393 trillion).