Administrators of regional referral hospitals across Uganda are sounding the alarm over their stagnant budgets for the 2025/2026 financial year, despite escalating operational costs.
The officials, representing hospitals in Lira, Mbarara, Hoima, Entebbe, and other regions, expressed their concerns to the Health Committee of Parliament during a meeting to present their budget framework papers.
"We have additional projects that require additional funding, but unfortunately, our budgets have been maintained at the same level," said one of the administrators.
This sentiment was echoed by other officials, who highlighted the challenges they face in providing quality healthcare services due to inadequate funding.
The situation is dire, with hospitals struggling to cope with outdated equipment, congestion, and a lack of essential medical supplies.
At Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, for instance, two or three patients are forced to share a single bed due to overcrowding. The hospital's only X-ray machine has been out of order since July last year.
Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital is also grappling with non-operational medical equipment due to the absence of a functional medical equipment workshop in Ankole. Efforts to seek assistance from the Kigezi medical workshop have been unsuccessful.
The officials emphasized that the lack of funding is not only affecting the quality of healthcare services but also hindering the implementation of new projects aimed at improving patient care.
As one administrator aptly put it, "Additional projects require additional funds, but we're not getting the support we need."