Former State Minister for Northern Uganda Kenneth Omona has defended the practice of doctors keeping their hands in their coat pockets, saying it can be a way for exhausted health workers to rest during long working hours.
Omona, a former Principal Private Secretary to President Museveni, said while appealing to the Minister of State for Health (General Duties), Anifa Bangirana Kawooya, to reconsider her reaction to the conduct of Dr Robert Candia, a senior dental surgeon at Arua Regional Referral Hospital.
The controversy stems from a viral video showing Kawooya confronting Candia during a hospital visit on Wednesday over keeping his hands in his pockets while speaking to her. The minister was heard demanding his suspension and threatening to have him transferred to Yumbe.
In a post on X, Omona, who said he knew Candia from medical school and had served as his president, described the doctor as disciplined and always smiling.
“Dear Mum, Hon Minister Anifa, mine is not defending an ethical behavior but just to explain something others are not telling you,” Omona wrote.
He explained that medical coats serve several purposes beyond their professional appearance, including allowing doctors to rest their hands when fatigued after spending long hours on their feet.
“The clinical coat has very many uses to a clinician. I won’t enumerate them but one of them, is what I have witnessed over the years: when a Dr is exhausted, instead of leaning against a wall or sitting down, many times he /she chooses to rest his / her hands in the lower coat pockets to find balance and rest on his / her feet, can you imagine,” he said.
Omona also suggested that keeping hands in coat pockets could help doctors avoid unnecessary contact with surfaces in hospital wards as they attend to patients.
“But also, to keep his hands from hanging everywhere and falling in contact with the surfaces on the ward, to keep them fairly clean before touching to examine another client, disinfect and keep again,” he added.
He said the practice could become habitual among health workers who spend extended periods attending to patients or teaching, particularly senior medical personnel.
Omona further noted that some health workers use their coat pockets to keep gloves after use, explaining that this could account for the behaviour witnessed during the encounter.
“I bet you, you will meet many, including very senior Drs pocketing,” he said.
Appealing directly to Kawooya, Omona asked her to give Candia another chance, saying his understanding of the doctor was based on their time together at medical school.
“Please, please, let me plead for Dr Chadia, he is that nice son of yours - try and find out,” he wrote, referring to Candia.
Omona acknowledged that his explanation might not settle the debate, adding, “I could be wrong, I am sorry, that’s just my humble but orthodox view.”
His intervention comes as the Uganda Medical Association criticises the reported suspension of Candia, describing the incident as “governance by tantrum” and demanding that the reported decision be reversed.
The association has argued that disciplinary matters involving public servants should be handled through established procedures rather than being decided during confrontations at health facilities.
The Ministry of Health has since clarified that Candia has not been suspended and continues to perform his duties at Arua Regional Referral Hospital.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry said any disciplinary action must follow the applicable public service procedures, while urging health workers to maintain professional standards and ensure uninterrupted care for patients.