The Kasese Municipal Social Services Secretary, Hebert Bwambale had asked the government to re-consider supporting the redevelopment of the hospital noting that it's serving the most hard-to-reach population of the district.
Government has no intention to invest money in
revamping Kilembe Mines Hospital-KMH, according to the ICT and
National Guidance Minister, Godfrey Kabyanga.
The Minister, who was on Friday responding to calls
from Kasese Municipal leaders for the government to redevelop the
facility, said that so long as there is still copper mining in Kilembe, the hospital
will remain but run under a private arrangement.
The Kasese Municipal Social Services Secretary, Hebert Bwambale had asked the government to
re-consider supporting the redevelopment of the hospital noting that it's
serving the most hard-to-reach population of the district.
But Kabyanga noted that the new investor that will take
up the copper mining business is expected to keep the facility running. He also said the government has already earmarked around US$ 4,000,000
million to start rehabilitating the Kilembe mines infrastructure before
the investor comes in.
//Cue in: “And I would…
Cue out: …and rehabilitate.”//
Kabyanga noted that the government is committed to upgrading
Rukoki health center IV to a district hospital status and improving other
facilities across the district. The minister asked political leaders to stop politicizing
government decisions and rather interest themselves in understanding how the
facility was established and run before it was destroyed by floods in 2020.
//Cue in: “Kilembe will be…
Cue out: …you only sympathize.”//
The government through
the ministry of health last month said it will construct a Health Centre III in Bulembia
Division, Kasese municipality instead of revamping Kilembe Mines Hospital.
According to the Minister
of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng, Kilembe Mines is situated along the River
Nyamwamba catchment area with a history of recurrent strong floods and they
cannot continue providing funds to the hospital that is prone to recurrent
destruction.
In a statement
addressed to the health committee of parliament, the minister said
that the government is pursuing the revamping of Kilembe Mines, which will further improve the health services in the area.
