Published on 14/01/2025
Dr. Ibrahim Bwaga, Director of Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, reported to Parliament that 57 women died during labor over the past year, with 45 passing away within 30 minutes of arrival.
Dr. Bwaga attributed these deaths to the long distances expectant mothers travel to access maternal services. He emphasized the urgent need for an Intensive Care Unit and a new maternity ward to improve maternal health outcomes.

Dr. Bwaga made the revelation while presenting the hospital’s proposals for the 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper before Parliament’s Health Committee. While reviewing the hospital’s physical performance for the 2023/24 financial year, he explained that some communities resist referrals to Kampala for intensive care services, instead opting to bury their loved ones locally.
“Out of the 57 maternal deaths, 45 occurred within 30 minutes of arrival at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital. Many patients travel over 100 kilometers for maternal services, often after undergoing multiple caesarean sections. By the time they reach the hospital, it is sometimes too late to save them,” said Dr. Bwaga.
He welcomed the government’s initiative to establish an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Hoima Hospital, expressing hope that it would help reduce maternal deaths and the emotional toll on medical staff who frequently face resistance from families unwilling to seek specialized care in Kampala.
“Many community members say, ‘Leave the patient here; we are ready to bury her,’ and it becomes difficult to convince them to seek further medical attention. The establishment of an ICU at Hoima offers hope for the Bunyoro region. Although the unit is not yet equipped, the equipment is expected to arrive soon, after which commissioning will take place,” he added.
Dr. Bwaga emphasized the urgent need for a maternal and child health ward to address congestion issues, where currently three to five babies share a single bed.

“Our strategic focus includes constructing a maternal and child health complex to accommodate pediatrics, obstetrics, neonatal care, gynecology, and an operation theatre. Our current theatre setup resembles an airport, with one surgery concluding as another begins, all managed with only two operational theatre tables. The mortuary capacity is also inadequate, which is embarrassing for a regional referral hospital in modern times,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Dr. Deus Twesigye, Director of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, raised concerns over soaring electricity bills, which he said are straining the hospital’s operations.
“Years ago, we received two small oxygen plants, and during the COVID-19 period, an isolation unit with an oxygen plant was constructed. The current national program providing large oxygen plants for all regions comes with significant power consumption, comparable to industrial levels,” Dr. Twesigye stated.
He also highlighted the challenges associated with maintaining a newly installed CT scan machine that requires a constant power supply.
“The CT scan machine is delicate and should never lose power. It came with a 250KV generator, and every morning, our Principal Administrator checks its status anxiously. It’s a costly machine, and we cannot afford for it to fail due to power outages,” he added.
To manage the high utility bills, Dr. Twesigye revealed that the hospital frequently petitions the government for financial support, though this approach is unsustainable.
“We operate eight large generators that need daily refueling, making maintenance financially challenging,” he said.
He further called for physical and ICT infrastructure improvements at Mbarara Hospital, which was constructed in 1952 and currently operates in deteriorating conditions.
“Our infrastructure is aged. Repairs often fail due to corroded pipes and outdated systems. Additionally, the hospital lacks an efficient electronic medical records system due to the service provider’s failure to anticipate the hospital’s structural limitations,” Dr. Twesigye concluded.