Kigezi Health Officials Sound Alarm on Soaring Alcohol Abuse and Malnutrition

Health professionals in the Kigezi Sub-Region have expressed grave concern over escalating rates of alcohol abuse and malnutrition. These intertwined issues are reportedly placing a significant and growing burden on the region’s health services.

The concerns were voiced during a press briefing held at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, in anticipation of the 4th Annual Kigezi Regional Health Sector Joint Performance Review Mission. This annual forum is crucial for stakeholders to collectively assess and improve health service delivery.

Johnson Bitungwa, Principal Clinician and Head of the Mental Health Unit at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, highlighted that a substantial number of annual admissions are directly linked to alcohol and substance abuse. He pointed to the proliferation of unregulated alcohol production and the need for stricter enforcement of alcohol sales regulations, including adherence to bar operating hours.

“In the community, we see the production of illicit alcohol. They mix various ingredients, and after consumption, you hear someone say they don’t remember how they reached home,” Bitungwa stated, illustrating the dangerous nature of locally produced spirits.

Dr. Anne Marion Namutebi, Executive Consultant at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, echoed these sentiments, noting that alcohol is a common factor in numerous conditions treated at the hospital. These range from mental illnesses and chronic liver disease to malnutrition and injuries.

Simultaneously, Rubanda District Health Officer, Dr. David Mporampora, revealed that malnutrition cases are also on the rise. He attributed this problem to a poor approach to food utilization, where many households sell most of their produce, leaving insufficient amounts for family consumption.

“The Bakiga grow and produce a lot, but they sell almost everything and leave very little for domestic consumption,” Dr. Mporampora explained. To combat this, health authorities are planning extensive public awareness campaigns.

The 4th Annual Kigezi Regional Health Sector Joint Performance Review Mission, set to begin on September 1, 2026, in Rubanda District, will focus on addressing these critical health challenges. The event aims to evaluate health service delivery, rank district performances, and identify viable solutions for the region’s pressing health issues.

Source: Nile Post