A six-week investigation by the State House Health Monitoring Unit (HMU) has uncovered widespread financial mismanagement, severe staff absenteeism and operational failures at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH).
Led by HMU Executive Director Dr. Warren Naamara, the investigation revealed what officials described as a systemic crisis marked by unaccounted-for funds, questionable utility payments, fraudulent fuel claims and chronic understaffing.
According to Dr. Naamara, the hospital management has failed to account for Shs4.1 billion.
"The hospital management has failed to account for Shs4.1 billion. Hospital administrators claimed to have paid over Shs2 billion towards utility bills. However, we have found no physical receipts," Dr. Naamara said.
He added that investigators could not verify the alleged payments.
"They claim to have paid over Shs2 billion, but there are no receipts, and the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) does not acknowledge receiving the money."
The investigation also uncovered alleged fuel fraud involving hospital vehicles.
According to Dr. Naamara, some drivers reportedly inflated fuel requisitions and pocketed the difference.
"We have discovered that drivers requisitioned 80 litres of fuel, filled only 40 litres and received the remaining value in cash, which was never accounted for," he said.
Beyond the financial irregularities, investigators highlighted a critical human resource crisis.
The hospital is operating with only 318 staff against an approved establishment of 1,256, leaving a staffing gap of nearly three-quarters. The audit further found that approximately 50% of the available staff were absent from duty during spot checks, further undermining service delivery.
Acting Executive Director Dr. Deus Twesigye acknowledged that understaffing has placed enormous pressure on the hospital but said it could not justify the high rate of absenteeism.
"We have only 331 staff out of the required 1,256. We are overwhelmed. To address absenteeism, we are implementing a clock-in system that will be integrated with the Human Capital Management (HCM) system. Staff attendance will be tracked, and those who do not report for duty will not be paid," Dr. Twesigye said.
On the accountability concerns, he said the hospital would await the investigators' final report.
"We shall wait for the investigators' report. The investigators found that fuel consumption for vehicles and generators had been exaggerated by drivers and some managers."
The Health Monitoring Unit has since handed over its official audit findings, contained in an Aide-Mémoire, to the hospital management.
Dr. Naamara said the findings require immediate action and are not subject to negotiation.
The HMU has given hospital managers and all implicated officials until December to account for the missing funds, clear their names and present a comprehensive action plan to address the identified shortcomings.
Failure to comply, he warned, could result in the matter escalating from an administrative audit to criminal prosecution.
