Allied health professionals in the Bunyoro sub-region have vowed to crack down on clinics and medical practitioners operating without licences and proper accreditation, warning that such facilities pose a serious threat to patients’ lives.
The Bunyoro Regional Supervisor for Allied Health Professionals, Donald Bamanya, made the remarks on Wednesday during an inspection operation in Katikara Sub-county, Kakumiro District, where several private health facilities were found to be operating illegally.
Bamanya said many clinics in the region are run by individuals who are neither registered nor qualified to provide medical services.
“There are a number of clinics being operated by people who are not registered, and some don’t even have qualifications to treat patients, which puts people’s lives at risk,” Bamanya said.
During the operation, Bamanya inspected J Power Clinic in Kitabona village, which he said was being operated by Joseline Tumuhaise, who failed to present academic documents or a valid practising licence.
He also raised concern about the condition of the facility, noting that despite being labelled a clinic, it was admitting patients suffering from measles, including children, in an environment he described as unhygienic and unsafe.
The clinic was found with dusty rooms, medical waste scattered around the premises and admission beds in poor condition, which Bamanya warned could expose patients to additional infections.
“Just look at the hygiene of the facility. Who told you to treat measles patients, moreover a baby? Do you want to kill him?” Bamanya said.
“So we are closing you, and we shall only open this place after it is put in order and we see your licence. You may be a nursing assistant who has never gone to a school of health; we can’t allow risking people’s lives.”
He ordered the immediate closure of the facility and directed Tumuhaise to report to the allied health regional office in Hoima with the required academic and licensing documents before any consideration of reopening.
Bamanya warned that similar enforcement operations would continue across the region.
“We shall continue with these spot-check operations. Bunyoro get warned — you won’t miss me in your area. Just make sure you put your facilities right and register with us so that we serve the nation. We won’t be kind to anyone,” he said.
In his defence, Tumuhaise said he had previously appealed to the landlord to improve the clinic’s condition, including cementing the floor, but had not received support.
He said he had since started making improvements himself and appealed for time to put the facility in order.
Bamanya, however, said any such request could only be discussed at the regional office in Hoima, maintaining that the clinic would remain closed until it fully complied with health and regulatory standards.