By Swift Reporter
Leaders from Makindye West, including parish and zone chairpersons under the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), have launched a new initiative dubbed “Know Your Government”, aimed at enhancing citizen awareness and monitoring government service delivery.
The programme was officially launched by Makindye West PLU Chairperson Dr Katandikwa Hillary, who noted that it is a nationwide initiative under the PLU leadership designed to track government programmes while sensitising Ugandans about ongoing development and poverty-alleviation efforts.
Focus On Accountability & Service Delivery
Dr Katandikwa said the initiative will focus on monitoring government empowerment and skilling programmes, with the aim of ensuring that they effectively reach intended beneficiaries.
As part of the launch activities, the leaders visited Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, where they toured several wards to assess service delivery and interact with medical staff.
During the visit, hospital officials informed the delegation that the facility’s CT scan machine had been non-functional for some period of time, a challenge they said has significantly affected patient care. The leaders called on the Ministry of Health to urgently address the issue.
Dr Katandikwa commended government efforts in service delivery and praised the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for what he described as efforts to combat corruption within the army.
He further urged that similar anti-corruption measures be extended across all public institutions to improve efficiency in service delivery.
The PLU leader also called for increased youth inclusion in government programmes and leadership positions, arguing that young people should be empowered to actively participate in governance and development initiatives.
Makindye West PLU Public Relations Officer Mukisa Charles Paul expressed appreciation for Kiruddu Hospital’s services, sharing a personal account of receiving treatment after suffering a mini-stroke.
He credited the hospital’s medical staff for his recovery and praised Dr Katandikwa for choosing the facility as the launch venue, saying it provided leaders with firsthand insight into the hospital’s operations.
Hospital Management Highlights Challenges
Speaking on behalf of the hospital administration, Dr Nagawa Elizabeth, an ophthalmologist, said Kiruddu Hospital offers a wide range of services, including burns and plastics, intensive care, eye care among many others.
She, however, noted challenges including understaffing and resource constraints, calling on government to increase staffing levels and budget allocations to match the growing patient demand.
Dr Nagawa explained that occasional shortages of medicines are linked to limited funding, which is allocated based on patient numbers, despite periodic surges in demand.
She also highlighted outreach programmes aimed at extending healthcare services to communities, particularly for patients who are unable to physically access the hospital.
Kiruddu Hospital Public Relations Officer Mubiru Baker dismissed negative perceptions about the facility, stating that it remains an effective national referral hospital.
He explained that many patients arrive at Kiruddu in critical condition, often after unsuccessful treatment attempts at other health facilities, which can contribute to poor outcomes.
He added that the hospital continues to handle complex and emergency cases despite the high burden of late referrals.
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