The Ministry of Health says Dr Robert Candia remains at work after a viral video showed Health Minister Anifa Bangirana Kawooya ordering his suspension over his conduct during a hospital visit.
The Ministry of Health has denied suspending Dr Robert Candia, a senior dental surgeon at Arua Regional Referral Hospital, following a confrontation with the Minister of State for Health (General Duties), Anifa Bangirana Kawooya, over his conduct during a hospital visit.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 16, the Ministry said Candia had not been suspended and was continuing to perform his duties, dismissing reports of disciplinary action against the doctor.
“The Ministry of Health clarifies that Dr Robert Candia of Arua Regional Referral Hospital has not been suspended and continues to perform his duties,” the statement signed by Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine reads.
The clarification follows a viral video showing Kawooya confronting Candia during a ministerial oversight visit to the hospital over his decision to keep his hands in his pockets while speaking to her.
In the video, the minister expresses displeasure at the doctor's conduct, orders his suspension and threatens to have him transferred to Yumbe, questioning why he would keep his hands in his pockets while addressing her.
The incident sparked public debate over the minister's handling of the matter, with questions raised about whether the doctor's conduct warranted immediate disciplinary action.
Responding to the controversy, the Ministry said disciplinary matters within the public service must be handled through established procedures rather than actions that bypass the required administrative process.
“Government of Uganda has established procedures for handling disciplinary matters and any such action must follow the applicable public service procedures,” Atwine said.
The Permanent Secretary also urged health workers to maintain professional standards while ensuring patients continue receiving care without interruption.
“I encourage all health professionals to uphold the highest professional standards and remain focused on providing quality, uninterrupted healthcare to the millions of Ugandans who seek services at our health facilities,” she said.
Atwine added that the ministry remained committed to working with health workers while maintaining accountability and protecting the quality of patient care.
The ministry's statement came amid criticism from the Uganda Medical Association (UMA), which condemned the reported suspension and accused the minister of exceeding her authority.
In a statement issued on Friday, the association, through its president, Dr Frank R. Asiimwe, described the incident as “governance by tantrum” and called for the immediate reversal of the reported suspension.
UMA argued that disciplinary action against public servants must follow the law and established administrative procedures, adding that political leaders should not summarily punish health workers over perceived breaches of etiquette.
The association also raised concerns about the working conditions of medical professionals, citing understaffing, drug shortages, faulty diagnostic equipment and long shifts as challenges already affecting health service delivery.
It called for any genuine concerns about Candia's conduct to be handled through the appropriate disciplinary channels and urged political leaders to avoid confrontations that could undermine the morale of health workers.
The Ministry's clarification maintains that Candia has not been suspended and remains at work, despite the minister's suspension order captured in the video.