Health 25 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda's Island and Mountain Communities Face Dire Healthcare Access Barriers
Residents in Uganda's remote island and mountainous areas struggle with timely medical care due to poor communication, unreliable transport, staff shortages, and missing facilities, as highlighted in a recent Equal Opportunities Commission report. Government officials acknowledge the issues and outline plans for upgrades including better ambulances and Health Centre IIIs. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/healthcare-challenges-of-island-mountain-dwellers-5403534
Uganda’s island and mountainous communities endure significant obstacles in accessing healthcare, leaving them vulnerable to preventable diseases and deaths. A November 2025 report by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) surveyed 14 districts, including Namayingo, Buvuma, Kalangala, Kaabong, Kapchorwa, Bulambuli, Mbale, Sironko, Bukwo, Kween, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo, Kasese, and Kisoro, pinpointing critical bottlenecks.
Poor phone network coverage forces residents to trek long distances for signals during emergencies, delaying aid for pregnant women and critical cases. Reliance on costly, weather-dependent boats hampers transport, while scarce ambulances weaken referrals to advanced facilities.
Health worker shortages exacerbate the crisis, with some centers staffed by just one person. For instance, at Timu Health Centre II in Kaabong District, nurse Anna Grace Lochoro single-handedly manages over 20 patients daily, up to 10 deliveries monthly, cleaning, and nighttime emergencies. The lack of Health Centre IIIs in certain sub-counties means no local maternity, lab, or emergency services, compelling risky cross-water journeys.
EOC research lead Suzan Atukunda and spokesperson Yusuf Muziransa call for urgent action: enhanced communication, better water transport and ambulances, more staff, and new Health Centre IIIs.
Buvuma Island MP Robert Miggadde Ndugwa notes that over 300,000 residents across 52 islands depend on inadequate Health Centre IIs, as government plans fall short for such areas.
Health Ministry Commissioner Dr. John Baptist Waniaye Nambohe defends the framework—Health Centre IV per constituency and hospitals for 500,000 people—but admits gaps. The ministry aims to bolster Health Centre IIIs for 90% of essential services, upgrade select IVs to community hospitals, and deploy boat and land ambulances.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)