Gulu, Uganda: Health authorities in Gulu District have diverted funds originally earmarked for improving security at health facilities to construct a mortuary, a move that has raised concerns about persistent theft and community intrusion at health centres.
District officials say the decision to redirect Shs56 million toward the mortuary project was unavoidable due to the urgent need for proper facilities to handle deceased patients.
The Gulu District Health Department had earlier developed a phased plan to fence health facilities across the district to reduce theft and unauthorized access. Under the plan, at least two health centres were to be fenced every financial year.
However, the initiative has now been suspended after the funds were redirected to support the mortuary construction project.
“We had initially planned to fence at least two health facilities every financial year,” said Dr. Kenneth Cana, a district health official. “But we have allocated Shs56 million for the construction of a mortuary because of the urgent need.”
Pressure on Health Centre IV facilities
Health administrators say the lack of mortuary facilities at several Health Centre IV facilities has created serious operational challenges.
Currently, some facilities operate without designated mortuary structures, forcing staff to improvise with limited space to manage both patient care and deceased bodies.
“Currently, we are using a very small space for both treatment and storing dead bodies at each Health Centre IV,” Dr Cana explained.
Officials believe the new mortuary will improve management of deceased patients and reduce pressure on the already stretched health facilities.
While the mortuary project addresses an immediate infrastructure gap, the diversion of funds leaves unresolved the longstanding security problems affecting health centres.
Unfenced facilities have increasingly become targets for theft, with reports of stolen solar equipment, medicines and other medical supplies.
Health workers also face challenges with unauthorized access by members of the public who freely enter health centre premises and use infrastructure meant for patients and staff.
District officials say fencing would significantly reduce such incidents while improving safety for health workers and patients.
The district health department now faces the challenge of balancing urgent infrastructure needs with long-term investments in health facility security.
Authorities say they will continue seeking additional funding to fence health centres in the future. Dr Cana said the district remains committed to strengthening health infrastructure, but must first address the immediate gap in mortuary services.
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