The community dialogue, organised by Living Goods, brought together Ministry of Health officials, district leaders, and administrators from Mukono General Hospital to address concerns over service delivery.
At the centre of the discussion were allegations that some private doctors are using government facilities to conduct surgeries while charging patients between Shs300,000 and Shs600,000, particularly for caesarean sections.
Village Health Team members said expectant mothers referred for C-sections are sometimes asked to pay before receiving treatment, a practice residents claim endangers lives.
Harriet Nansubuga, a local resident, urged medical workers to prioritise saving lives over collecting fees.
“Let doctors first operate on us, then they can detain us if we fail to provide money in time, rather than abandoning us and risking our lives,” she said.
In response, Daniel Kyabayinze, Director of Public Health representing the Permanent Secretary, directed the District Health Officer to open a police inquiry into the allegations.
“Legal action should be taken against private doctors who carry out operations at Mukono General Hospital,” Dr Kyabayinze said, warning health workers against exploiting public resources for personal gain.
He emphasised that government facilities are mandated to provide free services in general wards and must operate within national health policies and professional ethics.
However, Godfrey Kasirye, the Medical Superintendent at Mukono General Hospital, dismissed claims of illegal charges, clarifying that treatment in general wards is free and that only patients who opt for private wings are required to pay.
Beyond the alleged illegal fees, residents highlighted persistent challenges including shortages of essential drugs, limited infrastructure, and absentee medical staff.
They called on the Ministry of Health to strengthen lower-level health centres to reduce pressure on referral facilities.
Fatuma Ndisaba, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Mukono District, faulted local legislators for not doing enough to monitor service delivery or escalate issues to Parliament.
She noted that many legislators focus more on opposing government policies than attending engagement meetings, which she described as important platforms for understanding and addressing the district’s health service challenges.