SOROTI — Soroti City Woman Member of Parliament Joan Alobo Acom has called for the urgent rehabilitation of Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, warning that the facility’s deteriorating condition is putting patients’ lives at risk.
Speaking on Heroes Day, Alobo said she does not consider herself a hero and instead dedicated the day to the people of Soroti City, whom she described as the true heroes enduring economic hardship and poor access to essential services.
“The only heroes I have are my people of Soroti,” she said. “I will not rest until Soroti Regional Referral Hospital is rehabilitated for their good health.”
The legislator said her focus is to ensure improved living conditions for her constituents, including better infrastructure, accountable leadership and access to quality healthcare.
“My heroes are the people of Soroti who elected me. I need to see their lives change. I need to see them walk on good roads. I need to see a tax-friendly environment and accountable leadership that is free from corruption,” she said.
Alobo raised particular concern over the state of Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, saying the facility’s theatre is currently non-operational, forcing medical staff to relocate surgical services to Princess Diana Health Centre IV.
She warned that the situation is straining healthcare delivery and contributing to preventable deaths.
“Our people are dying due to limited access to healthcare services at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital. The theatre is no longer operating, and operations have been shifted to Princess Diana Health Centre IV because of the worrying state of the theatre,” she said.
Alobo argued that a regional referral hospital serving the entire Teso sub-region should not be operating under such constraints, adding that urgent government intervention is needed to restore its functionality.
She appealed to the central government to prioritize rehabilitation works and allocate sufficient resources to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the region.
“I plead with the government to urgently look into the issue of this hospital. The people of Teso deserve quality healthcare services like any other Ugandans,” she said.
The MP also urged fellow legislators from the Teso sub-region to unite in pushing for reforms at the facility, saying the issue transcends political differences and directly affects public welfare.
Her remarks have struck a chord with residents who have long raised concerns about the state of the hospital, one of the main referral facilities serving the eastern region.
As the country marked Heroes Day, Alobo’s message underscored a broader theme of leadership accountability, framing heroism not as ceremony but as the ability to deliver essential services that improve people’s lives.