The disagreement, which has sucked in local leaders arises from the trio’s failure to harmonize their positions on the distribution of health facilities that the government earmarked for the district in this financial year.
There is a sharp disagreement among Members of Parliament from Sembabule district over the planned upgrade of health facilities in the area.
The dispute pits Gorreth Namugga, the Mawogola County Member of Parliament, and Mawogola North MP, Shartsi Musherure Kuteesa against the Mawogola West MP and State Minister for Health in Charge of General Duties, Anifa Kawoya Bangirana.
The disagreement, which has sucked in local leaders arises from the trio’s failure to harmonize their positions on the distribution of health facilities that the government earmarked for the district in this financial year.
According to the Health Ministry work plan, the government committed to upgrading Mateete, and Lwebitakuli Health Centers III to Health Center IV, as well as elevating Nakasenyi and Kyeera Health Centers II to Health Center III.
However, the two MPs are opposed to the planned upgrade of the facilities arguing it does not appropriately respond to the health services needs of the area. According to Namugga, the health facilities proposed for upgrade are located in sparsely populated areas, which may render them less impactful in terms of service delivery.
She is opposed to the planned elevation of the health facilities from their current locations and instead wants them shifted to new sites in areas that are fairly populated. She accuses Kawooya of manipulating the work plan for her selfish interests over the wishes of the general population that are intended to benefit from the health centers.
Namugga is currently mobilizing local leaders and communities in her constituency to resist the upgrade of Mateete Health Center III from its current premises, saying it should be moved to an alternative piece of land she recently purchased in Mateete sub-county.
Similarly, Shartsi Musherure Kuteesa, the Mawogola County MP is also opposed to the elevation of Kasambya Health Center II Mabindo sub-county, demanding that the government should instead construct a new Health Center III facility at Kasaalu village in Mijwala sub-county.
Early this month, Musherure bought a 2-acres piece of land and offered it to the district to host the Health Center III, arguing that it is the most suitable site for the project. Amid the growing stalemate, Musherure has petitioned the Office of the Prime Minister and Minister of Health Doctor Jane Ruth Acheng, requesting adjustments into the sites of approved construction projects, to avoid misplacing the facilities.
However, Kawooya insists that the projects will proceed according to the approved plan, which was submitted to the Ministry of Health for financing. He blames the MPs for trying to use public projects to play what she describes as political gimmicks meant to earn them cheap popularity.
“Maybe these battles are intended to sabotage the projects and return the money to the consolidated funds as unspent money. But we are not going to tolerate such because it becomes illogical to begin on new sites yet there are already existing facilities serving the same purpose,” she said when contacted to comment about the clashes. URN
