A community monitoring report has found that rising patient numbers are straining health facilities in Rubanda District, with shortages of beds and essential medicines, long waiting times and staff absenteeism undermining service delivery.
Health facilities in Rubanda District are struggling to cope with a surge in patients, with shortages of beds and essential medicines, long waiting times and staffing concerns threatening the quality of care, a community monitoring report has revealed.
The findings emerged from a Community-Led Monitoring project implemented by Kigezi Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living with HIV/AIDS (KADOLHA), in collaboration with Mayanja Memorial Hospital Foundation and TASO Uganda.
Funded by the Global Fund, the project seeks to improve the accessibility, availability and quality of HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria services in Rubanda District by the end of December 2026.
The report is based on findings from 10 health facilities monitored between June 1 and September 30, 2026. It was presented at a meeting at the Rubanda District headquarters attended by district officials and other health-sector stakeholders.
KADOLHA team leader Amos Tugumisirize identified Rubanda District Hospital, Hamurwa Health Centre IV and Bufundi Health Centre III as the facilities most affected by the increase in patient numbers.
“Most patients reported frustration that is caused by spending long hours at the facilities due to large numbers in both outpatient and inpatient departments,” Tugumisirize said.
He warned that the pressure was also contributing to shortages of essential medicines, particularly those used to treat tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria.
“I don't know what you're going to do as the District Local Government, but this is affecting service delivery. The situation has also resulted in stockouts of essential medicines, especially for tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria,” he said.
At Bufundi Health Centre III, the pressure has reportedly reached the point where some patients sleep on the floor because of inadequate beds in the maternity ward.
The facility's in-charge, Maurice Ruhangariyo, confirmed the shortage of beds, saying the maternity ward could no longer adequately accommodate patients.
The report attributed the rising demand partly to ongoing infrastructure improvements and better services, which have attracted patients from neighbouring districts, including Kanungu and Kisoro.
Rubanda District Chief Administrative Officer Samuel Ahabwe said some patients were crossing district boundaries because particular services were unavailable at facilities closer to their homes.
“I even believe that we are serving people from neighbouring countries, the DRC and Rwanda, health workers must prepare to treat anyone seeking care as a long-term solution is being devised,” Ahabwe said.
Rubanda District Health Officer Dr David Mpola Mpola commended KADOLHA for compiling the report, which also identified staff absenteeism and late reporting for duty, particularly at Health Centre II and Health Centre III facilities.
He urged facility in-charges to strengthen supervision and ensure that health workers report for duty on time.
Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Rubanda West Hillary Bindeeba said the RDC's office would lead a team of officials on a fact-finding mission to investigate concerns raised in the report, particularly staff absenteeism.
Bindeeba warned that the team would conduct unannounced visits to health facilities to establish whether staff were meeting their obligations.
He said government investment in the district's health sector should translate into improved service delivery and warned that poor performance would not be tolerated.
The pressure on health facilities comes as the government invests in expanding healthcare infrastructure and improving services across Rubanda.
Rubanda District Hospital, which previously operated as a Health Centre IV, was elevated to hospital status, with up to Shs18.5 billion allocated for infrastructure development, recruitment of specialists and other requirements.
Hamurwa Health Centre IV recently received Shs500 million from the Bank of Uganda, alongside medical equipment, while construction works are underway at Bufundi Health Centre III as the government moves to upgrade it to a Health Centre IV.
Rubanda District Hospital, which began operating in July 2025, has already recorded increased demand for maternal healthcare services.
District LC5 Chairperson Stephen Ampeire Kasyaba said his office had been informed that the average number of women delivering by Caesarean section at the hospital each month had increased from 45 in the 2024/2025 financial year to 95 by October 2026.
The reported increase underscores the growing demand for specialised maternal care as the district expands its healthcare services.
However, delays in completing construction works have left patients and health workers grappling with inadequate space, compounding the challenges identified in the monitoring exercise.
The findings highlight the need to match infrastructure expansion with adequate staffing, medicines, beds and other essential resources to ensure that growing patient numbers do not compromise the quality of care.