Health 3 September 2026 Nile Post
Kitagwenda MP Demands Explanation for Unequal Health Facility Distribution Under UgIFT
Kitagwenda County MP Robert Mugabe has voiced concerns over the seemingly uneven distribution of health facilities funded by the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Programme (UgIFT). He questioned the Ministry of Health on the selection criteria, highlighting disparities that have left some districts with numerous facilities while others remain underserved. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/368794/kitagwenda-mp-mugabe-questions-unequal-distribution-of-ugift-health-facilities
The distribution of health facilities under the first phase of the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Programme (UgIFT) has come under scrutiny, with Kitagwenda County Member of Parliament, Robert Mugabe, leading the charge. Mugabe publicly questioned the Ministry of Health’s selection process, suggesting a significant imbalance in how these crucial resources were allocated across different districts.
The UgIFT program aims to upgrade and rehabilitate primary healthcare facilities to improve access to essential services at the sub-county level. While over 300 facilities have reportedly been upgraded or refurbished, the Kitagwenda MP pointed out that some districts appear to have received a disproportionately large share, with one unnamed district allegedly benefiting from as many as ten new facilities.
“We need to understand the criteria that was used to select the districts that benefited under the first phase of UgIFT because there appears to be an imbalance in the distribution of these facilities,” Mugabe stated during a parliamentary session. He stressed the need for equity, arguing that it is unfair for some districts to receive numerous facilities while others, like his own constituency, struggle with significant infrastructure gaps.
Mugabe highlighted that Kitagwenda County, with thirteen sub-counties, only has four Health Centre IIIs and one Health Centre IV, leaving nine sub-counties without even a basic Health Centre III. He urged the government to prioritize areas with the greatest need in the subsequent phases of the program.
Responding to the concerns, Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi acknowledged the issues raised. He assured Parliament that the ministry would engage further with legislators on the matter and announced plans to organize a workshop to discuss the implementation and distribution of health projects under UgIFT, promising to address the disparities highlighted by the MPs.
Source: Nile Post