MPs call for better budget allocation for health facilities

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As the Ministry of Finance embarks on the 2026/27 budget process, Members of Parliament have urged the government to prioritise the renovation and equipping of health centres across the country.

Most MPs described the current state of health facilities as “sick”.

“Our health facilities in Amolator district are more sick than the patients that go there to seek treatment. The infrastructure, the equipment, the drugs are all wanting. As a house, we need to take a bold step and allocate money that will help revive our health centres come next financial year,” MP Dr. Agness Atim, Woman MP for Amolatar, said.

Christopher Komakech, Aruu County MP, on Thursday (September 11), told Parliament, chaired by Speaker Anita Among, that in Pajule there are only two delivery beds and that most expecting mothers give birth on the floor.

“In Pajule, women are giving birth on the floor,” he said, before Dr. Twaaha Kagabo, MP for Bukoto South, interjected, arguing that the problem is not the dilapidated structures but focusing on prevention.

“The problem is not the dilapidated buildings or lack of drugs in our health centres. We should talk about prevention,” he argued.

His submission was, however, challenged by Igara County MP Mbwatekamwa Gaffa, who questioned whether women should be prevented from conceiving and giving birth so that they do not visit hospitals.

“What is Dr. Kagabo talking about? We are talking about women delivering on the floor. He is talking of prevention, is he in order?” he asked.

Speaker Among ruled that Dr Kagabo was out of order, noting that it is a woman’s right to conceive and give birth.

“Don’t tell us that women should go on prevention. Government should instead procure more delivery beds and take them to the Health Centre,” she said.

Joseph Ssewungu, Kalungu West MP, requested that government deploy doctors to privately owned hospitals since they already have established facilities.

Paul Omora, Otuke MP, noted that although the Ministry of Health allocates billions in the budget for human capital development and health issues appear prominently, very little is allocated to health service delivery.

For example, he noted that government this financial year allocated sh33b for the reconstruction of Health Centre IIIs and IVs, which he said is very little.

“Why don’t we borrow money and deal with this problem in health infrastructure comprehensively? Let’s engage the executive and get this money,” he said.

Trade and industry state minister David Bahati on behalf of government, promised to inform the Minister of Health on the issues raised and then present a comprehensive statement.