Uganda’s health sector is facing an urgent call to restore public trust, as concerns over unethical practices among health workers continue to undermine service delivery.
During the graduation of 326 students at Kabale School of Comprehensive Nursing, speakers stressed that professionalism and compassion must take center stage if the country’s health system is to overcome its credibility crisis.
For years, patients have raised complaints about absenteeism, extortion, negligence, and lack of empathy in health facilities, issues that have eroded confidence in public healthcare.
While government investment in training institutions has boosted the number of health workers, questions remain about whether professional conduct is keeping pace.
Nambilo Josephine Mukasa, the school’s Principal, warned that technical skills alone are not enough to fix the sector’s reputation.
“We have a lot of work to do for our patients. It is important that we uphold health ethics and become a source of hope for those who come to us in need,” she told the graduates.
Dr. Canon Kedrace Turyagyenda, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports, serving as Chief Guest, stressed that nursing and midwifery are not ordinary professions.
“You stand with patients from birth to death, often in difficult and under-resourced environments. The work you are about to do is vital, but it will be challenging,” she warned.
She urged graduates to adhere to the Nightingale pledge and remain diligent despite the harsh conditions.
Established in 1972, Kabale School of Comprehensive Nursing has consistently produced health professionals, but the graduation ceremony underscored a pressing national issue.
While Uganda continues to train nurses and midwives, the healthcare system still struggles to provide safe, efficient, and adequately supported services.
