Jinja Hospital officials grilled over Shs1.2 billion payment of water bill
The hospital officials led by the Director, Dr. Alfred Yayi appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) chaired by the Vice Chairperson, Hon. Gorreth Namugga on Tuesday, 22 July 2025 to respond to queries in the Auditor General's report for the financial year 2023/2024.
The legislators were concerned that clearing of the water bill with an amount more than had been allocated amounted to diversion or mischarge of funds.
The committee members wondered if the hospital administration had sought authorization from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. 'We actually applaud your creativity in trying to save lives in Jinja City and beyond but we need transparency. Where exactly did you get the money? Which budget votes did you cut? If you used funds from the private wing, say so', Namugga said.
According to the Auditor General's report, the hospital has accumulated water arrears of over Shs3.7 billion in a 10-year period.
MPs questioned why the hospital had failed to prioritise settling such a substantial domestic arrear. 'So National Water and Sewerage Corporation is that lenient that you have been consuming water for over 10 years without payment? How did you manage that?' Namugga wondered.
MPs were also dismayed with the continued under budgeting for utilities by the hospital administrators. 'It seems you are the ones creating these financial problems. You cannot expect government to give you more money when you are under-budgeting. If you need Shs90 million and only budget for Shs30 million, where do you expect the shortfall to come from?' asked Hon. David Karubanga (NRM, Kigorobya County).
UPDF Representative, Hon. Victor Nekesa questioned how such a persistent issue continues unresolved even though the hospital submits its budget.
Dr. Alfred Yayi requested for more time to provide a comprehensive explanation regarding the source of funds used to clear part of the water arrears after his initial explanation citing a USAID-funded project, was dismissed as insufficient. 'We have not fully addressed the specific issue raised. We request a few hours and will respond by the end of the day,' Dr. Yayi said.
He added that while the hospital receives funds from government, it also benefits from a USAID initiative called G2G which reimburses funds upon meeting certain milestones.
According to Dr. Yayi, these reimbursements can be used for hospital priorities.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
4 hours ago
- The National
UAE and Jordanian planes drop food and humanitarian aid into Gaza
The UAE and Jordan on Sunday carried out three air missions to drop humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, after Israel said it will begin a limited pause in fighting in three areas of the enclave and allow new aid corridors. The UAE said it carried out the 54th humanitarian and relief air drop over the Gaza Strip on Sunday, its official news agency Wam said. It added that the move comes as part of 'the UAE's continuing efforts to support civilians in isolated areas of the Strip that are inaccessible by land. Jordan earlier said it carried out three air drops on the Gaza Strip carrying humanitarian and food aid, one of which was with the UAE, Petra news agency said. The missions involved C-130 aircraft from the UAE Air Force and the Royal Jordanian Air Force, carrying 25 tonnes of food and humanitarian supplies Petra added. The Israeli military on Sunday initiated a limited pause in fighting in three populated areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day, part of a series of steps taken as concerns over surging hunger in the territory mount and as Israel faces a wave of international criticism over its conduct in the 21-month war. The military said it would begin a daily 'tactical pause' in Gaza city, Deir Al Balah and Al Mawasi, three areas of the territory with large populations, to 'increase the scale of humanitarian aid' entering the territory. The pause begins daily from 10am to 8pm local time until further notice, starting on Sunday July 27. Israel has been facing growing international criticism, which the government rejects, over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and indirect ceasefire talks in Doha between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have broken off with no deal in sight. Dozens of Gazans have died of malnutrition in recent weeks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. The ministry reported six new deaths over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition, bringing the total number of deaths from malnutrition and hunger to 133 including 87 children. On Saturday, a five-month-old baby, Zainab Abu Haleeb, died of malnutrition at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, health workers said. The Egyptian Red Crescent said it was sending more than 100 lorries carrying more than 1,200 metric tonnes of food to southern Gaza through the Karam Abu Salem crossing on Sunday. Aid groups warned last week of mass hunger among Gaza's 2.3 million people and international alarm over the humanitarian situation has increased, driving French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to recognise a Palestinian state in September. A group of 25 states including Britain, France and Canada last week condemned the 'drip feeding of aid' and said Israel's denial of essential humanitarian aid was unacceptable. Israel, which cut off aid to Gaza from the start of March and reopened it with new restrictions in May, says it is committed to allowing in aid but must control it to prevent it from being diverted by militants. It says it has let enough food into Gaza during the war and blames Hamas for the suffering of Gaza's people. Israel and the US appeared on Friday to abandon ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, saying it had become clear that the militants did not want a deal. The UN said it would use a new window of humanitarian pauses to reach as many starving people as possible in Gaza. UN emergency relief co-ordinator Tom Fletcher said on X he welcomed Israel's announcement and that teams on the ground were prepared to move quickly. 'In contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window,' Mr Fletcher said. He warned on Friday that conditions in the enclave were 'already catastrophic' and worsening daily. His office said UN teams were in a position to increase deliveries once permitted. 'If Israel opens the crossings, lets fuel and equipment in, and allows humanitarian staff to operate safely, the UN will accelerate the delivery of food aid, health services, clean water and waste management, nutrition supplies, and shelter materials,' it said.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences Graduates 391 Students
Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, in its 4th commencement, today conferred postgraduate, first degree, and diploma qualifications to 391 graduates, including 55% female students. Postgraduate programs included fields such as Clinical Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics and Child Health. Fields of study for first degree and diploma programs included Doctor of Medicine, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Technician, Clinical Laboratory Science, Medical Laboratory, Dental Technology, Radiology, Adult Health Nursing, Anesthesia, Emergency and Critical Care, Midwifery, Ophthalmic Nursing, Comprehensive Nursing, and Environmental Health. Dr. Yemane Seium, Dean of the College, stated that the graduates will significantly contribute to reducing medical training costs, improving the quality of care provided to the public, and addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals in the country. Dr. Yemane also noted that academic activities at the college are conducted by 90 faculty members, 70 Eritrean and 20 foreign professionals. He added that during the current academic year, 12 faculty members of Orotta College of Medicine and Health Science are pursuing postgraduate studies inside the country and abroad. In her keynote address, Ms. Amina Nurhussein, Minister of Health, emphasized that the encouraging progress in the health sector is the result of the Government's substantial investment across all sectors. She called on the graduates to actively contribute to realizing the roadmap of the national health sector. A representative of the graduates highlighted the growing role of youth professionals in advancing national healthcare services and affirmed their readiness to serve the public with dedication. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Women and girls of African descent: Celebrating contributions, recognising challenges
This Friday marks the first observation of the International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent, following a declaration last year by the UN General Assembly. It recognises their immense contributions to society, but also acknowledges the challenges they face due to the double burden of racism and sexism. Although woman and girls of African descent embody strength, resilience and untapped potential, they remain among the most marginalised groups globally due to the intersection of racial, gender and socioeconomic discrimination. For example, they suffer alarming maternal mortality rates, according to the UN's reproductive health agency, UNFPA. Oftentimes, cases are not related to income or education, but rather to racism and structural inequality stemming from a legacy of slavery and colonialism. 'The good news is these things are not irreversible,' Patricia DaSilva, a senior programme adviser with the agency told UN News. 'We can fix them. We have the solutions for many of the problems that we are facing in terms of maternal health for women and girls of African descent.' Data and solutions UNFPA advocates for stronger health systems and investment in midwifery programmes, culturally sensitive training for healthcare providers and improvements in data collection. The agency also invests in partnerships such as an initiative in the Pacific region of Colombia, home to large communities of people of African descent. 'We have worked with the traditional midwives for them to integrate ancestral knowledge with modern health practices. This includes supporting accurate birth registration,' she said. 'It sounds like a really simple thing, but when you are in a remote community without access to technology, without access to administrative offices, it becomes this really, really important issue.' Agents of change Ms. DaSilva upheld the theme for the International Day, which focuses on women and girls of African descent as leaders, not just beneficiaries. 'I think it is important that the international community, the global community, understands that women and girls of African descent are not recipients of aid. They are leaders. They are innovators. They are agents of change,' she said. 'We have an opportunity and even an obligation and a responsibility to support the efforts to resource their solutions, to elevate their voices and continue to really double our efforts to dismantle the structural barriers that continue to impede their progress.' The first celebration of the International Day coincides with the start of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, which runs through 2034. The aim is to take concrete actions to confront the legacies of enslavement and colonialism, deliver reparatory justice, and secure the full human rights and freedoms of people from the African diaspora worldwide, building on the previous Decade, which ended last year. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.
