Uganda public health training institutions get new fleet

The Ministry of Education and Sports has provided 4 vehicles to three public health training institutions to enhance public health training services.

 The institutions are Butabika School of Psychiatric, Ntungamo School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Kyambogo public health nurses’ College.

State Minister for higher education John Chrysestom Muyingo handed over the pickups at the public health Nurses' college on October 10, 2023. He called for proper use and care of the cars so that they serve their rightful purpose.

The State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysestom Muyingo (middle) and Dr.Safina Kisu Museene ,Ag. Director HTVET (left) presiding over the commissioning and handover of brand new vehicles to various education and health training centres. The function was at Public Health Nurses College, Kyambogo on Tuesday October 10, 2023. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

“We have started with a few schools but take maximum care of these vehicles, they have been given to us for a purpose so strictly use them for that purpose. These vehicles are not to take you to weddings, they are not meant to carry charcoal, matooke from Ntungamo to Kampala, these vehicles are to carry the principles, students, lecturers to the community,” Muyingo emphasized.

Muyingo added that the government will soon be giving out buses to different higher learning institutions. This, he said, will ease transportation of learners and teachers.

“This is just the beginning of the many vehicles that the government will be giving out. Soon I will also be giving out buses to institutions. I want you to remember that these vehicles have been purchased from taxpayers' contributions, some of you don’t even want to pay tax but want the facilities,” Muyingo added.

The State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysestom Muyingo (right) presiding over the commissioning and handover of brand new vehicles to various education and health training centres. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

According to Safinah Museene director of health training at the Ministry of Education and Sports, the provided vehicles are going to be crucial in moving health care supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) and transporting students to different health centres and hospitals.

“These vehicles will help in monitoring and coordinating the students and as we request them to utilize the cars properly, we assure those that haven’t received that plans are underway,” Museene affirmed.

She therefore urged the beneficiaries to contribute to a better Uganda with the work they are to do with the vehicles.

Betty Angujeru Pacutho,Principal Public Health Nurses' College, Kyambogo (in red) overwhelmed with joy as she displayed the keys of a brand new car received from the State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysestom Muyingo (left) during the handover ceremony of vehicles to various education and health training centres. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

Wilber Tukamuhabwa, the principal of Ntungamo School of Nursing and Midwifery is one of the beneficiaries of the government-handed vehicles. He described this as a great opportunity for the new institution as it did not have the capacity to buy a vehicle and had been using an old one which was breaking down.

“It has been very difficult and challenging and sometimes we would hire from private owners using the little money we would collect. We bought a used old car from the bond but it keeps breaking down and because we did not have the capacity to buy a new one, we would just move like that,” Tukamuhabwa said.

The institutions revealed that the vehicles will come in handy, especially in the wake of infectious diseases like covid-19. To them, this will enhance coordination in activities of Public Health Care and community health care training.

Guidelines for the use of availed vehicles

Ketty Lamaro, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education and Sports presented strict guidelines to be followed by those in use of the newly provided vehicles as follows;

• The vehicle shall be subject to annual inspection. This operation will be carried out by the Ministry of  Works and Transport.

• The government vehicle shall not be driven outside official working hours without the authority of the responsible officer.

• Care and discretion must be exercised by the responsible officer in granting authority which irrespective of the period covered by the permission must be conveyed in writing.

• The vehicle shall have a log book in which the driver records all the journeys made. Each journey entered in the log book shall be notified by the authorized officer by counter-signing against each entry

• The driver shall not carry unauthorized passengers or goods in the government vehicle and any public officer authorized to drive the vehicle must possess a driver's license