Ben Muwonge, the representative of Kyampisi ward who seconded the motion, proposed that they petition the Local Government minister as well as the PS to reconsider her directive.
Mukono municipal
council has passed a resolution supporting the decision of their executive
rejecting the transfer of Mukono hospital management to the district.
The decision was made after Mukono
Mayor; George Fred Kagimu read a letter from the
Health Ministry, Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwiine directing the
municipality to hand over management of the hospital to the district.
The letter was in response to another written by the
municipality to Dr Atwine seeking guidance about the management of the
hospital because of a dispute over its management by the two administrative
units.
In her December 12, 2019 letter, Dr Atwine said under the Health
Ministry policy, General Hospitals serve as referral facilities for the
population beyond the lower local government where they are located.
“Therefore upon upgrading Mukono HCIV to a
general hospital status, administrative and management responsibility of the
hospital, which is a public facility, should be transferred to Mukono district
local government…I, therefore, urge Mukono municipality leadership to collaborate
with Mukono district local government and ensure the transfer of the newly
designated general hospital including the staff under the management of the
district,” Dr Atwiine wrote.
The decision didn’t go down well with the municipal authorities led by the mayor. On
Monday, the 29 Mukono municipal unanimously voted in favour of the Mayor’s proposal rejecting the transfer of the hospital to the
district. Ben Muwonge, the representative of Kyampisi ward who seconded
the motion proposed that they petition the Local Government minister as well
as the PS to reconsider her directive.
//Cue in: “Bwerijibwa mu mikono…
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English translation
“Once it is taken away from the municipal’s care it may
distort service delivery, I am therefore of a view that instead of transferring
responsibilities, let the facility remain a health centre IV,” he said.
Peter Nsamba, another councillor notes that CAP 243 of the
Local Government Act grants municipalities and other urban administrative units
control over government institutions including hospitals.
//Cue in: “This is an…
Cue out: …employees and staff”//
Sylvia Kiwuka Nsimbe, the Speaker Mukono
Municipality, said they are glad that the municipal executive has responded to
the PS with a council resolution.
//Cue in: “So I stand…
Cue out: ... have ruled that”//
The Health Ministry Spokesperson, Emmanuel
Ainebyona notes that the municipality is free to make a response over any
matter and the ministry will be glad to receive it.
“The ministry has always guided and with any
resolution the municipality makes, the ministry shall continue guiding as well
as arriving at a good conclusion where there is a disagreement,” Ainebyona noted.
