Proper structures crucial to delivering services

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is one of the institutions in this country that is known to have delivered well in various areas. They have been praised even internationally for the work they have done under AMISOM in Somalia. Their Sacco, the Wazalendo Savings and Credit Co-operative Society, is one of the biggest in the country with over 60,000 members. They are also currently in charge of National Agricultural Advisory Services although the impact of their entry into that field remains to be seen. The UPDF generally seems to have goodwill from the people in Uganda.

Even with that record, it should not be assumed that the army can fix all the problems in the country. This is why it was worrying to hear that the UPDF replaced health workers at Nakawuka Health Centre III whom the President had asked to be replaced.

While there is no doubt that the health workers from the UPDF can do the job, sacking, replacing or transferring of workers has to be seen to be done the right way.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Asuman Lukwago, two days after the President made the pronouncement, said the workers were not sacked but transferred. Even if this is the case, it is hoped that an inquiry and fair investigation was done and that the team were given proper instructions on the way forward.

We agree with the Wakiso District chairperson, Mr Matia Lwanga Bwanika, that the President was only treating symptoms of the crisis in the health sector rather than treating the cause when he made the announcement.
“What has happened at Nakawuka is just a tip of [the] iceberg compared to what the country is facing within the health sector,” Mr Bwanika said. He is right. Stories abound in the media on almost daily basis, of health centres lacking resources, both human and otherwise. And it is not only health centres that are affected. Parents have complained about absenteeism of teachers and lack of resources in schools. In may communities, people have had to get their own tools and clear roads because the district administration is not doing much to maintain a semblance of a road.

Such problems point to a lack of leadership and supervision all the way to the top of the structures. Until the problem is dealt with at the root, we will continue to have institutions that are not delivering services to the people. And sacking workers at will, will not solve the problem.

The issue: Sacking health workers
Our view: Such problems point to a lack of leadership and supervision all the way to the top of the structures. Until the problem is dealt with at the root, we will continue to have institutions that are not delivering services to the people. And sacking workers at will, will not solve the problem.