The planned deployment is expected to raise the hospital’s staffing level from 28% to 43%, strengthening specialised healthcare services for patients in the Tooro and Rwenzori sub-regions.
Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital is expected to receive 146 additional health workers, with the government providing funding for their salaries to address staffing shortages and strengthen specialised healthcare services.
Hospital director Dr Archibald Newton Bahizi Sebahire said the deployment would raise the facility’s human resource staffing level from the current 28% to 43%, improving its capacity to serve patients from the Tooro and Rwenzori sub-regions.
“We have registered several achievements under human resources for health. We had an improvement from 23 per cent to now 28 per cent, but shortly we shall be at 43 per cent because we are going to have an additional 146 human resources,” Dr Bahizi said.
The additional staff are expected to complement specialists already working at the hospital, including cardiologists, orthopaedic surgeons and other surgical specialists.
The deployment could help strengthen the hospital’s ability to provide specialised treatment locally and reduce the need for patients to travel to other facilities for advanced medical care.
Dr Bahizi made the remarks during a visit to the hospital by Senior Presidential Adviser on Mobilisation Mishac Kawamara, who is leading a campaign to highlight government projects and achievements across the Tooro and Rwenzori sub-regions.
Kawamara said the campaign was intended to showcase government investments and help communities understand the impact of public programmes.
“We have launched a mobilisation campaign of exposing successes of the NRM in this region. The first phase will be one week. People think that NRM has done nothing because they don't bother to see what it has done,” Kawamara said.
He said President Museveni had assigned him to tour the two sub-regions and highlight government achievements amid criticism from sections of the public over the delivery of services and improvements in livelihoods.
From the hospital, the delegation proceeded to Katalaka Health Centre IV in Fort Portal City, where the government has constructed a building valued at more than Shs1.5 billion.
The facility is among the health infrastructure projects being highlighted during the campaign, which is focusing on investments intended to improve access to healthcare and other public services.
The delegation later visited Bukuuku Community Secondary School, where the government has invested more than Shs2 billion in school buildings.
The school’s headteacher, Jackline Katuhebwe, said the improved infrastructure had contributed to increased enrolment and created a better environment for teaching and learning.
“This infrastructure development has helped the school to increase the enrolment from 345 students to 600 now,” Katuhebwe said.
She said the increased enrolment reflected the school’s growing capacity to accommodate learners following the infrastructure improvements.
NRM Leaders Welcome Government Investments
National Resistance Movement chairperson for Fort Portal City Claire Kasande said the government investments demonstrated progress and supported continuity in leadership.
“What does this mean to the leadership of President Museveni? It means success, a well-done story, continuity and sustainability. And here we say, NRM oyee!” Kasande said.
Fort Portal City Resident City Commissioner Asuman Nasike said the visit provided an opportunity to showcase government programmes and their reported benefits to residents.
“Today, we have been joined by the Senior Presidential Adviser on Mobilisation on a mission to expose the positivity, the benefits and the achievements the NRM government has brought to the people of Tooro and Rwenzori,” Nasike said.
The seven-day mobilisation campaign is expected to continue across the Tooro and Rwenzori sub-regions, highlighting government investments in healthcare, education and other public service sectors.