Luuka, Uganda: The Luuka Patriots Association (LUPA) has been lauded for its landmark contribution to the health sector with the completion and handover of Shs350 million staff quarters at Kiyunga Health Centre IV, the only Health Centre IV in Luuka District.
The newly constructed facility, an eight-room block designed to house eight medical workers, was officially handed over on Monday by LUPA Patron and Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Chairman, Prof Dr Al-Hajj Muhamadi Lubega Kisambira.
The project, which started in 2022, was completed earlier this year under Dr Lubega’s stewardship.
Speaking at the handover event, Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, in a message delivered by Hon Stephen Kisa, MP for Luuka South and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on HIV and Related Matters, commended Dr Lubega and the LUPA team for their generosity and community spirit.
“Minister Aceng asked me to commend you for being exemplary in Luuka District by constructing staff quarters for our medical workers. You have set a good precedent, proving that one can serve a community even without being a politician,” Hon Kisa said.
Quoting Acts 20:34-36, the Minister emphasized the biblical call to give selflessly and urged locals to complement government efforts through private contributions and community-led initiatives.
“Learn to appreciate and support people who are giving to Luuka. The patriotic heart you have shown is a definition of the government’s call to her people,” the message read in part.
Dr Lubega, who also serves as First Deputy Prime Minister of Busoga Kingdom, called for an end to politically motivated sabotage and urged Luuka’s citizens to support development, not division.
“We started by giving banana sackers to Luuka women, welding machines to youths in sub-counties, but some people began accusing me of planning to join politics. That mindset must change,” he said.
He further decried what he termed as growing tendencies of social media blackmail in Luuka, allegedly fuelled by hired youth aligned to political actors. “There are leaders who see whatever is done by others as wrong. Imagine if MPs, LCVs, RDCs, and leaders sat together with us who are not in politics—we would transform Luuka,” Dr Lubega stated.
Speaker of Luuka District, Ronald Bikumbi, said the staff housing project would directly address the challenge of absenteeism among medical staff at Kiyunga Health Centre IV by enabling residency near the facility.
His concerns were echoed by the District Health Officer (DHO), Dr Christopher Wandera, who committed to ensuring full stationing of health workers at the upgraded facility. “We are grateful for this initiative, and we pledge to resolve staffing issues to match the new infrastructure,” Dr Wandera said.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including MP for Luuka North Hon Kyobe Luke Inyensiko, District Chairperson Wakaze Simon, Woman MP aspirant Annet Nabirye, and several aspiring leaders and local council officials.
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