Health 1 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Pakwach District Approves Relocation of Health Centre IV Due to Nile Flood Risks
Pakwach District Council has greenlit moving Health Centre IV from a flood-prone site near the River Nile to a safer location amid rising waters from seasonal rains. Leaders cite safety threats to patients and staff, alongside structural damage, as key reasons for the urgent shift. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/rising-water-levels-in-river-nile-force-relocation-of-pakwach-health-center-iv-5410640
Pakwach District Council voted on Tuesday to relocate Pakwach Health Centre IV to Kapita Cell in Puvungu Central Ward, Pakwach Town Council. This move addresses growing dangers from the swelling River Nile, fueled by early seasonal rains.
The current facility in Lubiri B Cell, Puvungu West Ward, sits just 300 meters from the Nile’s banks along the Pakwach-Karuma highway. Staff report cracks in buildings where water has encroached. District Vice Chairperson Pastore Gidaga highlighted that 30% of the site falls in a buffer zone, with water eroding land, forming deep gullies, and threatening lives.
The decision came from a March 31 council session where leaders prioritized patient, staff, and infrastructure safety. Councilors called it overdue, referencing 2013 NEMA warnings that blocked expansions due to flood risks.
Some worry the shift could stall upgrades to a district general hospital, a long-standing resident demand. Panyimur Sub-county Councilor Mathew Wakunga noted potential setbacks to government requests. Yet, District Chairperson Robert Omito views it positively, saying it aligns with national plans to bolster Health Centre IVs into hospitals.
The new seven-hectare site is already cleared for health projects, including a Bilharzia unit and Professor Ongom Memorial Hospital. No timeline for relocation has been set.
The centre serves 194,757 people plus patients from Nwoya and Nebbi districts, managing highway accident emergencies.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)