Radiography professionals across Uganda have called on the government to allocate more resources to strengthen radiography services and expand staffing in public health facilities, citing the crucial role diagnostic imaging plays in accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
Speaking during the commemoration of World Radiography Day 2025 held at Makerere University College of Food Science and Nutrition Auditorium, President of the Society of Radiography in Uganda (SORU), Micah Muhangi, said diagnostic imaging is central to improving the quality of healthcare delivery in the country.
“We want more of our professionals—not only radiation safety officers, but radiographers, medical imaging technologists, and sonographers. The structures are already in place up to Health Centre III, and we want to ensure these professionals are deployed to serve Ugandans effectively,” he said.
Muhangi noted that the shortage of qualified radiography professionals continues to hinder access to quality diagnostic services, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
He urged the government to invest both in equipment and in human resources to ensure the sustainability of imaging services.
“The machinery must be made available in all government health facilities, in addition to increasing the recruitment of radiography professionals, whose numbers are still low,” he added.
According to Muhangi, the lack of sufficient equipment and staff has forced many Ugandans to seek expensive diagnostic services in private facilities.
A CT scan in a government hospital costs approximately Shs120,000, while the same service in a private facility can go for as high as Shs200,000.
“We ask the government to procure modern imaging equipment and employ the right professionals to operate and maintain it, so that these machines do not break down prematurely,” he said.
Responding to the concerns, the Commissioner in charge of Laboratory and Diagnostic Services at the Ministry of Health, Suzan Nabadda, said efforts are underway to expand radiography services across all levels of healthcare delivery.
“We’ve restructured to accommodate more radiography staff and are actively advocating for more resources. We’ve catered for radiology and imaging services with radiologists stationed at national, regional, and district hospitals, and imaging technologists and radiographers placed at Health Centre III and IV levels,” Nabadda said.
She added that the Ministry of Health is committed to absorbing more radiography professionals into the public health system, but additional funding will be necessary to meet operational and equipment needs.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Allied Health Professionals Council, John Charles Okiria, emphasised the importance of accurate diagnosis through imaging technologies such as CT scans and X-rays, warning against the growing threat of unqualified practitioners posing as radiographers.
“Accurate and precise diagnosis is the foundation for effective treatment. However, we are increasingly seeing unqualified individuals masquerading as professionals—using small computers to ‘detect diseases’ and prescribe treatment. Those are quacks, and they pose serious risks to public health,” Okiria said.
He urged the public to seek medical imaging services only from qualified professionals registered with the appropriate authorities to ensure safety and accuracy in diagnosis.
The event, held under the theme, “Medical Imaging Professionals Partnering for a Healthier Future,” brought together radiographers, medical imaging technologists, health administrators, and policymakers to discuss the future of diagnostic imaging in Uganda.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to advancing imaging services as a cornerstone of Uganda’s healthcare system.
