By CMP Publications
In a powerful statement that has sent shockwaves through the nation, Louis Lubongoya, the General Secretary of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has laid bare the grim realities faced by medical professionals in Uganda under the current regime.
Speaking candidly about the dire conditions within the healthcare sector, Lubongoya revealed, “The Museveni regime has turned all of us into thieves.” He explained that the government’s failure to provide adequate compensation and dignified living conditions for medical doctors has forced many into unethical practices, splitting their time between public service and private clinics to make ends meet.
Lubongoya described a troubling scenario that has become all too common among doctors in Uganda. “Every day, a medical doctor in a government hospital will perform ward rounds for one hour in the morning, sign the attendance book, and then leave. The rest of the day is spent in their private clinic, where a single surgery can earn them as much as their entire month’s salary from the government job,” he explained. This practice, while necessary for survival, compromises the quality of care available to patients in public hospitals.
He expressed his deep concern over this unethical conduct, noting that many doctors are enlisted as full-time government employees but spend the majority of their time in private practice. “If the government were paying medical doctors well and ensuring they had dignified living conditions, they wouldn’t need to go through the trouble of opening up private practices,” Lubongoya asserted.
The consequences of this systemic failure are starkly visible in the overcrowded and poorly managed casualty wards at Mulago Hospital and regional referral hospitals across the country. Lubongoya’s revelations extend beyond the healthcare sector, highlighting similar issues in other industries where government employees are forced to compromise their duties due to inadequate compensation and poor working conditions.
“The saddest thing is to realize that as a country, there is enough money to fix this mess. But the priorities of those who rule over us are elsewhere. Weep, beloved country,” Lubongoya concluded, calling attention to the mismanagement and misplaced priorities that have led to the current state of affairs.
His words resonate with the growing frustration among Ugandans, who are demanding urgent reforms to restore integrity, fairness, and efficiency across all sectors of public service. As the NUP continues to advocate for change, Lubongoya’s statement serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the deep-seated issues that plague the nation.