Buliisa LCV Chairman Wandera vows to crack down on extortion in health facilities

Buliisa: Wandera Atuhairwe Twari (WAT), the Buliisa District LCV Chairman has vowed to crack down on health workers accused of extorting money from patients seeking medical services at government health facilities.

Wandera made the remarks during the burial of 94-year-old Mrs. Janet Kagoro Bagadira, 94, in Kisiimo Cell, Buliisa Town Council, Buliisa District.

He said the district leadership had received reports of health workers demanding money from patients and mothers seeking maternity services.

“We have reports of health workers extorting patients who seek medical services at different health facilities,” Wandera said. He said the district had instructed health workers to wear uniforms and name tags to enable patients to easily identify them.

Wandera also revealed that the district had deployed undercover operatives to expose health workers involved in extortion. He said the operatives would carry photocopied money when visiting health facilities, which would later be used as evidence against health workers who demand illegal payments.

Wandera said poor service delivery, particularly in the health sector, had previously contributed to Buliisa being ranked among poorly performing districts.

He attributed the situation partly to extortion and the practice of mothers giving birth from homes instead of health facilities.

“We shall not sit aside and watch. We are going to eliminate extortion in health centres and sensitise pregnant mothers about the importance of delivering from health facilities,” he said.

The district chairman also said authorities planned to open an access road to Butiaba Health Centre III, which he said had been reallocated some years ago but currently lacks an access route.

Education concerns

On education, Wandera expressed concern over the district’s poor performance in recent mock examinations.

He said the district registered only 52 Division One candidates, describing the performance as worrying.

“We shall engage head teachers, parents and other stakeholders to find ways of improving academic performance ahead of the Primary Leaving Examinations,” Wandera said.

Former Buliisa County MP Stephen Barahwa Mukitale called for stronger cooperation between district leaders and the Bagungu Community Association (BACA) to improve service delivery in the district.

Mukitale said the Bagungu diaspora could play a key role in lobbying for development projects in Buliisa, particularly in education and health.

He also encouraged residents to have children while ensuring they receive education. “Let us produce many children, but ensure that they are educated for a bright future,” Mukitale said.

On his part, Patrick Wobusobozi, the Masindi District LCV Chairman called for unity and cooperation among leaders in Buliisa.

Wobusobozi noted that although Buliisa was curved out of Masindi District, the two districts remain connected and should continue working together for the benefit of their people.

Family remembers Bagadira

Speaking on behalf of the grandchildren, Mark Mugisa, the Buliisa District Revenue Officer, described the late Bagadira as a parent who nurtured many people, including strangers.

Mugisa said their grandmother had been in and out of hospital while receiving treatment and would be dearly missed by the family and the community.

Bagadira is survived by children and grandchildren.

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