Health 14 June 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Kisima Health Centre Staff Sign Attendance Register Months in Advance, Sparking Outrage
Jinja city's security committee was stunned to find health workers at Kisima Health Centre III had pre-signed the attendance register for an entire month while being absent from duty. An impromptu visit revealed the facility deserted, with only a security guard present, and no staff returning despite a lengthy wait. Source: https://observer.ug/news/shock-as-absentee-kisima-health-centre-workers-sign-attendance-register-in-advance
An impromptu inspection by Jinja city’s security committee has exposed serious dereliction of duty at Kisima Health Centre III, located on the islands of Rwabitooke, Kisima I, and Kisima II.
Led by Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Salim Kumakech, the committee arrived at the health facility around 2:30 pm to assess service delivery, only to find it empty save for a security guard. The guard claimed the health workers were out for lunch and expected back shortly. However, hours later, by 6:30 pm, no medical personnel had returned, raising immediate concerns.
The shock deepened when the committee discovered the attendance register had been filled out for the entire month of June. This practice, where staff apparently sign in advance for days they are not present, bypasses the daily recording of attendance, making it impossible to track actual working hours.
Adding to the dismay, a member of the health facility management committee revealed that out of the 12 allocated staff, only four are regularly seen, leaving the whereabouts of the remaining eight unknown. This chronic absenteeism means the facility, intended for 24-hour operations, is often closed at night, forcing critical emergency cases to be evacuated to the mainland at great risk to patients.
RCC Kumakech condemned the absenteeism, stating it directly undermines the government’s decentralization efforts and its commitment to providing accessible healthcare. He emphasized that timely access to quality healthcare is a fundamental right being frustrated by negligent staff.
Residents echoed these frustrations, highlighting the prevalence of water-borne diseases on the islands and the facility’s frequent unattendance. Many, including expectant mothers seeking antenatal care and parents needing immunizations for their children, have been unable to access essential services, leaving them vulnerable and reliant on costly trips to the mainland.
The situation has transformed the government-invested health center into a “white elephant,” failing to meet the basic medical needs of the island communities.