The two were arrested on Monday in connection to a demonstration organised by residents of Bulembia division and the surrounding area against the decision by the Ministry of Health to withdraw the credit line for medical supplies to Kilembe Mines Hospital.
The Kasese Mayor Chance Kahindo and Bulembia Division LC III chairperson, Richard Bomera are out on police bond. The two were arrested on Monday in connection to a demonstration organised by residents of Bulembia division and the surrounding area against the
decision by the Ministry of Health
to withdraw the credit line for medical supplies to Kilembe Mines
Hospital.
Police used tear gas to foil the protests and stop the residents from leading a procession from Kilembe mines hospital gate to the chief administrative
officer-CAO in Rukoki. Police also picked up Chance Kahindo and Bulembia Division LC III chairperson, Richard Bomera on allegations of leading an unlawful demonstration.
However, the two were released on police bond on Monday evening and ordered to report back on January 16th, 2023. Kahindo has vowed to
continue fighting for the existence of Kilembe mines hospital given its importance to the residents.
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Kasese district LC V
chairperson Eliphazi Muhindi, who together with other leaders met residents
and staff of the hospital in the evening and asked them to be calm as
leaders make all necessary steps to ensure the decision of the ministry is rescinded
and the hospital is supported to get more drugs. The chairperson, who hailed the unity of the residents, also noted that a number of other district leaders are meeting relevant authorities over the same matter.
Kasese
woman member of parliament Florence Kabugho has written to prime minister
Robina Nabanja seeking her urgent intervention in the matter of Kilembe mines
hospital. In her letter received
by the OPM on Monday, the MP said that Kilembe Mines Hospital serves eight sub-counties, saying implementing the current directive would lead to a health crisis in the district.
The Ministry of
Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine wrote to the Executive Director of
Joint Medical Stores on December 2, 2022, asking for the deactivation of
Kilembe Mines Hospital from the list of facilities that qualify for essential
medicines and health supplies. According to the communication, the hospital had
failed to utilize funds for essential medicines and health supplies during the
first quarter of the financial year 2022/23 covering the period between July
and September 2022.
The facility has been getting an annual allocation
of about 354 million Shillings. The Ministry directed that the money should be
reallocated to other facilities at HC III, HC IV, and hospital levels in both
in Kasese district and Kasese municipality, a decision which has sparked angry
reactions from different stakeholders.
