Health 19 September 2026 Parliament of Uganda
Arua Hospital Faces Severe Staff Shortage, Operating at 23% Capacity
Arua Regional Referral Hospital is struggling to meet patient demand, operating with only 23 percent of its approved staffing. This critical shortage impacts all services, from maternity care to specialized treatments, as highlighted by the hospital's acting director. Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/index.php/news/4615/arua-hospital-runs-23-percent-staffing-amid-rising-patient-pressure
Arua Regional Referral Hospital is grappling with a severe deficit in personnel, functioning with a workforce that represents a mere 23 percent of its authorized staffing levels. This significant gap, revealed by the hospital’s acting director, Dr. Gilbert Aniku, is a major impediment to delivering adequate healthcare to the vast population it serves.
The hospital caters to an estimated 2.5 million people across the West Nile region, including a diverse population of Ugandans, refugees, and cross-border visitors. Annually, Arua Hospital manages approximately 130,000 outpatient visits and 22,000 inpatient admissions, placing immense strain on its limited human resources and infrastructure.
Dr. Aniku detailed the critical situation to the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, emphasizing that the staffing shortage directly affects the hospital’s ability to provide optimal services. The maternity ward is particularly affected, handling around 7,000 deliveries annually, with nearly half requiring Caesarean sections, further taxing the hospital’s resources.
While the hospital faces these challenges, there is a glimmer of hope. Parliament has allocated additional funding for the current financial year, which is expected to enable the recruitment of 127 new staff members. This recruitment drive is projected to increase the hospital’s staffing levels to approximately 32 percent of the approved establishment, potentially bolstering specialized services like intensive care, dialysis, and emergency care.
The committee also addressed concerns regarding expired medicines and the condition of the hospital’s medicine store. Dr. Aniku acknowledged the expiry of certain drugs, including essential antiretrovirals, some of which were donations. Efforts are underway to improve the storage conditions with the installation of air conditioning systems to maintain optimal temperatures.
Furthermore, the hospital is confronting a growing burden of cancer cases, often needing to refer patients to specialized centers due to limited diagnostic and treatment capabilities. Plans for a dedicated cancer facility in West Nile are in progress, though timelines remain uncertain. The hospital does operate an oxygen plant and a CT scan facility, with dialysis services under development with support from Kiruddu National Referral Hospital.
Issues concerning the mortuary facilities and a missing ambulance were also discussed, with Dr. Aniku outlining plans for a modern mortuary and confirming that the investigation into the missing ambulance is ongoing.