Mukono District has strengthened its emergency medical response services following the official deployment and handover of four government ambulances aimed at improving healthcare access and reducing delays in emergency evacuations.
The handover ceremony was presided over by the District Chairperson and Chief Administrative Officer.
Speaking during the event, Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Henry Ddamba officially introduced the ambulances and their assigned drivers, noting that the vehicles were provided by the Government of Uganda to strengthen emergency health services and ensure quicker medical response for patients in critical condition.
“These ambulances are intended to improve emergency healthcare delivery across the district. We urge health workers and drivers to use them responsibly to save lives,” he said.
District Health Officer Stephen Mulindwa explained that the ambulances will be strategically allocated across different constituencies in Mukono to improve emergency coverage and reduce delays in patient evacuation.
According to the deployment plan, Mukono South ambulance services will be stationed at Kojja Health Centre IV, while Mukono North’s ambulance will be based at Katoogo Health Centre IV. Two additional ambulances will continue serving Mukono Municipality, which handles a high volume of referrals and road accident emergencies.
Leaders at the event also highlighted operational challenges affecting ambulance services, including rising fuel costs, poor internet connectivity affecting dispatch systems, and the increasing number of emergency cases received at Mukono General Hospital.
Health officials revealed that the introduction of ambulances has already contributed to a sharp reduction in post-crash deaths within the district, dropping from 28% to below 10%.
Mr. Ddamba further disclosed plans to recruit additional ambulance drivers, improve fuel management systems, and explore the introduction of electric ambulances and ambulance boats to serve island and lakeside communities where transport challenges remain high.
While officially dispatching the ambulances, Mukono District Chairperson Francis Mukoome called upon the Government of Uganda to increase support towards the district’s health sector.
He noted that Mukono’s location along a major highway, coupled with surrounding island communities, places enormous pressure on local health facilities due to the high number of accident victims and referrals received daily.
The Chairperson also appealed for increased investment in upgrading health facilities, deploying more consultants, and assigning additional doctors to Health Centre III facilities to improve access to quality healthcare services.
For years, Mukono has largely depended on ambulances deployed by political leaders to respond to emergencies. The latest government intervention, however, marks a major step in strengthening structured emergency medical services, particularly for remote and high-risk communities.
