Gov’t urged to prioritize service delivery, not wasting taxpayer’s money in ceremonies

The Chairperson LC3 Ibulanku sub-county and Bugweri Town Council in Bugweri District, Mr Ndhoga Ibrahim has challenged the NRM government to stop wasting taxpayers by organizing many public functions yet service delivery is lacking in government facilities.

While on a courtesy visit at Busesa Health center IV in Bugweri town council Bugweri district, Mr. Ndhoga who is also a member of the FDC National Publicity committee was informed by Health workers that the health facility had run out of drugs and other health supplies, something which puts the life of people at risk.

He was concerned with the huge budgets by the ruling NRM government which includes facilitating musicians ahead of government celebrations, saying that such money would be invested in health and other services, quoting the 38th Liberation day celebrations where a number of them have been hired to perform at Jinja City based Kakindu Stadium on Thursday ahead of the Friday January 26, 2024, NRM Day.

The Manager of the Office of the NRM National Chairman (ONC) Kyambogo Hajjat Hadijja Namyalo is tomorrow (Thursday) to lead an eve of the Liberation celebrations at Kakindu stadium starting at midday as a Kasiki for the National liberation celebrations which will take place on Friday at St. John’s SS Wakitaka, Mafubira sub county in Jinja District.

“Today I paid courtesy visit to Busesa Health Center IV in Bugweri town council while playing my cardinal roles of monitoring and supervision but surprisingly I have been informed that there are no essential drugs like Panadol, coartem yet the government is spending money on hiring Gravity Omutujju to entertain NRM people ahead of 38th liberation celebrations,” Mr Ndhoga wondered.

The former journalist-turned-politician said that there is no reason for government to celebrate the 38th NRM liberation day in Busoga and spend a lot of money hiring musicians to entertain NRM carders yet health facilities are hit by shortage of drugs.

“Let us prioritize tax payers by considering important departments such as health, education, agriculture as opposed to ‘okwepicha’ in Kakindu stadium tomorrow,” Ndhoga added.

He commended the UPDF for the newly constructed medical store in Bugweri district ahead of the Tarehe sita celebrations which are scheduled to take place in the district on February 6, this year but challenged the government to equip the facility other than leaving it empty without drugs. He asked president Museveni and his allies to first find solutions for the people he’s visiting before the Tarehe Sita.

“We are seeing roads here in Bugweri being fixed because of the Tarehe sita on February 6, but this shouldn’t be only during ceremonies but always. We report to president Museveni to send drugs to the health center where he’s coming next month or else he may find other people dead due to lack of drugs in the health center which serves over 200,000 locals in the district,” Ndhoga beseeched.

However, DailyExpress has established that despite the shortage of drugs at the facility, the laboratory was well equipped and health workers were at their respective point of work at the time of filing the story.

Commenting on the matter, the District Health Officer for Bugweri district Dr. Muwereza Peter said that given the number of people seeking for medication, drugs sometimes get out of stock and said there is no call for punic in people.

“Sometimes drugs get out of stock and this occurs at several times but people should continue coming for medication because the health workers are available to give counsel and advise. There is a time when some health supplies get finished but this cannot be a matter to cause punic in the community,” Dr. Muwereza said.

This has come when the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) are tirelessly organizing the Tarehe sita celebrations which will be held in Bugweri district on February 6, 2024 and President Museveni is expected to be the chief guest.