A surprise midnight inspection by the Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, has uncovered a month-long breakdown of key medical equipment at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, with the facility’s X-ray machine and one of its three oxygen plants remaining non-functional.The minister visited the hospital at around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday to assess service delivery and the working conditions at the government health facility.
During the inspection, he expressed concern over the delayed repair of the essential equipment, saying the Ministry of Health’s technical teams had not responded despite the faults lasting nearly a month.Dr. Baryomunsi said the prolonged breakdown of the X-ray machine and oxygen plant could negatively affect patient care if immediate action is not taken. He called for urgent intervention to ensure the equipment is restored and health services continue without unnecessary interruptions.Even with the equipment challenges, the minister described the hospital’s performance as impressive. He found health workers actively attending to patients during the late-night visit and praised the staff for maintaining a clean and organized environment.He also interacted with several patients, who commended the hospital for the quality of healthcare they were receiving. According to the minister, the facility has continued to prioritize patient welfare, including exempting financially struggling patients from paying for CT scan services.Dr. Baryomunsi applauded the hospital’s executive director, Dr. Allen Namutebi, and the entire medical team for their dedication and professionalism.
He urged other regional referral hospitals, including Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, to learn from Kabale’s approach to service delivery.Kabale Regional Referral Hospital is the main referral facility serving the districts of Kabale, Rubanda, Rukiga, Kisoro, Kanungu, and Rukungiri. It also trains medical interns and is expected to serve as the future teaching hospital for Kabale University’s medical school.
The hospital has benefited from significant government investment in recent years through expansion and modernization projects aimed at strengthening specialized healthcare services in the Kigezi region. While the latest inspection highlighted commendable service delivery, it also underscored the urgent need to repair critical medical equipment to support quality patient care.
