Busia, Uganda | URN | Calls to redirect money spent on national Independence Day celebrations towards improving health services have emerged in Busia District, where residents say persistent drug stockouts and inadequate hospital facilities continue to affect access to treatment.
As Uganda marked 64 years of independence on October 9, the residents argued that the approximately Shs3 billion reportedly spent on national celebrations should instead be channelled towards purchasing medicines, improving hospital wards and addressing other challenges in government health facilities.
Annet Nabwire, a resident, said government health facilities faced a heavy burden that required proper budgeting to ensure patients could access medicines whenever they sought treatment. She also appealed to the government to intervene in the growing cancer burden.
James Efumbi, another resident, said health facilities faced several challenges, including inadequate accommodation for patients in wards and shortages of medicines, which he said needed urgent attention.
Angela Kisakye called on the government to enforce laws regulating alcohol consumption, arguing that excessive drinking undermines development. She said reducing drunkenness was necessary for Uganda to improve livelihoods and achieve the level of development enjoyed by wealthier countries.
Speaking during Independence Day celebrations held on Friday in Dabani Sub-county, Busia District, Bishop Samuel Bogere Egesa, the Archbishop of Bukedi Diocese and vice-chairperson of Pentecostal bishops in the Bukedi sub-region, supported the government’s decision to suspend budgeting for national functions.
Egesa said substantial amounts of money had been spent on national celebrations while several districts still faced development challenges that required government attention.
Dr Samuel Buyinza Bonye, a Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) soldier who led a team of born-again soldiers, said they had joined other believers in seeking spiritual independence through prayer, which he linked to peace and national development.
Bishop Andrew Egesa of Springs of Life Ministries International said the church was dedicating time to pray for the country, particularly for an end to corruption. He said the prayers were intended to seek divine intervention against corruption and support the country’s continued progress.
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