The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has recommended that Masaka Regional Referral Hospital be downgraded to a general hospital, citing acute staffing shortages that undermine its ability to operate at its current status.
The proposal follows findings in the Auditor General’s 2024 report, which paint a grim picture of the hospital’s human resource crisis. According to the report, only 276 out of 1,217 approved positions at the facility are filled — leaving 941 vacancies unaddressed. This means that more than three-quarters of the posts remain vacant, a situation lawmakers say severely limits service delivery.
Butambala County MP and PAC member Muwanga Kivumbi, who is leading the proposal, argued that the hospital’s current designation is misleading given its capacity constraints. “You cannot call it a regional referral hospital when it lacks the required specialists, nurses, and support staff to meet that mandate,” he said during the committee’s deliberations.
Kivumbi further suggested that funds currently allocated to the Parish Development Model (PDM) should be redirected to revitalise the health and education sectors. He noted that while the PDM aims to boost household incomes, the state of public service delivery — particularly in healthcare — demands urgent investment.
“Redirecting some of these resources to critical services like hospitals and schools would make a more immediate and tangible difference in people’s lives,” Kivumbi said.
Masaka Hospital serves a vast population in southern Uganda and neighbouring districts. Health advocates warn that a downgrade could force patients to seek specialised treatment in Kampala or Mbarara, increasing congestion in those facilities.
The Ministry of Health has yet to respond to the PAC’s recommendation, but the proposal is likely to spark debate over funding priorities and the government’s broader health sector strategy.