District Health Officers (DHOs) in the Kigezi Sub-region have called for the dignified handling of health workers suspected of corruption, warning that public humiliation could undermine confidence in the health sector.
The call is contained in a memorandum of understanding presented to Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi during the 4th Annual Kigezi Regional Health Sector Joint Performance Review Mission in Rubanda District.
Speaking at Volcano Hotel in Rubanda Town Council on Tuesday, Kabale District Health Officer Dr Gilbert Mateeka said the DHOs were concerned about reports of health workers in some districts being publicly humiliated after being accused of corruption.
“We appreciate and support the fight against corruption, but we also request that when it comes to health workers, there should be consideration of the fact that some of them are wrongly accused, and publicly embarrassing them could affect public confidence in our health systems,” Dr Mateeka said.
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His remarks come amid an ongoing corruption exposure campaign by Minister for Local Government Balaam Barugahara and State Minister for Local Government Justin Nameere, during which several government officials, including health workers, have been publicly confronted over alleged corruption. Some of the officials have subsequently been arrested or interdicted.
Dr Mateeka did not cite a specific case but urged authorities to ensure that investigations are conducted in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of suspects.
In response, Dr Baryomunsi said he agreed with the DHOs’ concerns and would raise them with the relevant authorities.
The minister said the presumption of innocence should be respected, noting that some accusations could arise from internal conflicts within government institutions.
He added that some individuals could exploit gaps in the government’s anti-corruption campaign to settle personal disputes.
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Meanwhile, former National Drug Authority board chairperson Dr Medard Bitekyerezo called for tougher measures against corruption in the health sector, particularly the theft of medicines from public health facilities.
Dr Bitekyerezo blamed lax supervision and monitoring by health facility managers for creating opportunities for the theft of government medicines.
“People are no longer stealing drugs in small amounts. We have intercepted lorries full of stolen drugs,” he said.
He added that those involved in the theft of medicines usually include “nurses, pharmacists, and the gatekeepers.”
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Rubanda District is hosting the three-day 4th Annual Kigezi Regional Health Sector Joint Performance Review Mission, which started on September 1, 2026.
The review is convened by Kabale Regional Referral Hospital on behalf of the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with regional health departments and development partners.
It seeks to assess healthcare service delivery, rank district performance and identify solutions to key health challenges affecting communities.
Previous Joint Performance Review Missions were hosted by Kabale, Kanungu and Kisoro districts.
