Health 2 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Frequent Power Outages Jeopardize Patient Care at Iganga General Hospital
Iganga General Hospital is facing a critical situation as frequent power blackouts disrupt essential medical services, forcing reliance on expensive generators and putting patient lives at risk. The facility also grapples with significant staffing shortages, overcrowding, and outdated infrastructure. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/power-blackouts-put-iganga-hospital-patients-lives-at-risk-5580562
Patients at Iganga General Hospital are in peril due to recurrent power outages that cripple vital medical operations. The hospital administration reports between seven and ten power interruptions daily, some lasting for hours, necessitating the use of generators for critical services like maternity, theatre, laboratory, and oxygen supply.
This reliance on backup power incurs substantial costs, with the hospital spending approximately Shs7 million monthly on generator fuel, leading to mounting debts. Hospital administrator Abubakar Waiswa has repeatedly appealed to the Ministry of Energy and the Office of the Prime Minister for intervention, highlighting that a stable electricity supply would not only safeguard patient care but also free up funds for other essential needs.
The issue’s severity is underscored by the personal account of Iganga District Woman MP Mariam Seif, who tragically lost her newborn child in 2024 during an electricity outage while the infant was in an incubator. She also recounted losing a sister in 2025 due to delays in securing oxygen, a process heavily dependent on a consistent power source.
Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) attributes the frequent blackouts to an aging electricity network and a long feeder line. To address this, UEDCL is proposing a dedicated power line for the hospital, which would isolate it from faults on the main feeder. However, the implementation hinges on necessary funding and government approval.
District leaders are demanding urgent action, emphasizing that the hospital, now serving multiple neighboring districts, is ill-equipped to handle the increased patient load with its current infrastructure and power supply. Beyond the power crisis, the hospital suffers from a 35 percent staff deficit, overcrowding, dilapidated structures, and a lack of essential diagnostic equipment and a functional blood bank, further compromising patient care.