Leaders eulogize murdered Masindi DHO

By Innocent Atuganyira

Masindi: Leaders in Masindi district have eulogized the former acting district health officer, Dr. Jino Abiriga, who was murdered over the weekend, describing him as a committed and hardworking civil servant.

This was during the special council sitting that was convened at the district headquarters gardens shared by Moses Kirya, the district council speaker on Tuesday.

The motion to pay last respect to Dr. Abiriga was raised by Kassim Kabagonza, the leader of government business in the district council, and was unanimously seconded by all councillors.

Kabagonza told the council that the late Abiriga was royal, transparent, and had a clear attitude towards work. During his service, he exhibited professionalism, and he left a big gap behind that cannot be replaced.

He noted that it was necessary for the council to convene a special session to honor and pay last respect to the fallen health workers.

Cosmas Byaruhanga, the Masindi district LCV chairperson, eulogized Abiriga as a committed and hardworking civil servant who was always available for any task assigned to him.

‘’Abiriga served both the rich and poor, a special surgeon with hands blessed with healing, committed to Masindi for his entire life, a person of integrity who was always ready in case of any emergency,’’ Byaruhanga eulogized Abiriga.

Byaruhanga challenged other health workers to emulate the late Dr. Abiriga’s way of conduct and his way of performance so that they could erase tears from the community members.

‘’I know in most cases you get exhausted, but let us try to emulate the late Abiriga’s way of conduct and his way of performance so that we can erase tears from the community members,’’ he asked health workers.

Phionah Sanyu, the Chief Administrative Officer of Masindi, said Dr. Abiriga was committed to doing his best for the calling of public service. She also added that Abiriga has been a team player, professional, resilient, and upright technical officer of high integrity.

Sanyu also noted that in 2022, the central government, through the ministry of health, threatened to suspend funding the district health sector for failing to account for funds; however, after the appointment of the late, the decision was reversed.

She commended the late Abiriga for improving service delivery in the district health sector, noting that she didn’t have any issues with the deceased to do with accountability.

Ronald Businge Kyomuhendo, the Masindi Municipal Mayor, asked mourners to desist from killing their colleagues over money or earthly wealth, stressing that Abiriga has left a very big gap in the health sector that can’t easily be covered.

‘’We shall all die, but what pains me is the way Abiriga was killed. You can poison or shoot me dead, but never slaughter me. You might think you killed Abiriga, but you killed the entire district because it was hard to replace him,’’ Businge asserted.

Dr. John Turyagaruka, the retired Masindi district health officer, eulogized his colleague, a person who was hardworking and cooperative during the time they worked with him.

‘’He was hardworking and cooperative during the time they worked with him,’’ he added.

Romano Otoro, the deputy commandant of Kabalye Police Training School Masindi, assured the mourners that the case would be investigated and the culprits would face the law.

The 58-year-old health worker was murdered over the weekend, and his body was allegedly dumped a few meters from his residence in Kijura North Cell, Central Division Masindi Municipality.

The late Dr. Jino Abiriga’s body will be conveyed to Maracha district on Wednesday (tomorrow) morning and laid to rest on Friday.

Dr. Abiriga started services at Masindi district local government on April 3, 1999, as a medical officer and was promoted to senior medical officer on November 14, 2008.

He has been attached to Masindi district general hospital since then, and on November 14, 2022, he was assigned the duty of acting as the district health officer until his death.

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