Health 2 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Faces Critical Radiographer Shortage Impacting Public Healthcare
Public hospitals in Uganda are struggling with a severe deficit of radiographers, with only about 150 employed in government facilities despite over 1,200 registered professionals. This shortage hampers diagnostic services and increases patient waiting times. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-urged-to-fix-severe-radiographer-deficits-hindering-healthcare-delivery-across-public-hospitals-5618020
The Ugandan government is facing urgent calls to address a critical shortage of radiographers in public hospitals, a situation that is significantly undermining healthcare delivery across the nation.
During the Society of Radiography of Uganda’s (SRU) annual conference, Minister of State for Public Service, Ms. Lydia Wanyoto, highlighted the need for better coordination with the Ministry of Health to ensure timely submission of essential healthcare personnel lists. This, she stated, is crucial for securing adequate wage allocations for recruitment and improving service delivery.
The conference revealed a stark reality: out of more than 1,200 registered radiographers in Uganda, only approximately 150 are currently employed within the government’s health sector. This leaves a massive human resource gap, directly affecting patient care and the effective utilization of advanced medical equipment.
Mr. Micah Muhangi, president of the SRU, echoed the Minister’s concerns, appealing for increased government investment to fill approved staffing positions. He pointed out that many hospitals are operating with a fraction of their required radiographer numbers, leading to excessively long queues and underutilization of expensive diagnostic machinery.
“A hospital, for example, may have four radiographers, yet in the structure they are supposed to be 30 people,” Mr. Muhangi explained. “Because we have more equipment than people, that means there is going to always be some equipment which is not utilized, adding to the turnaround time for patients.”
National referral hospitals are expected to have 26 radiographers but often have only ten, while regional referral hospitals, mandated for 27, typically have five. At the district level, the situation is even more dire, with most Health Centre IVs and IIIs lacking any radiographers.
While acknowledging some recent minor recruitment efforts, Mr. Muhangi stressed that these are insufficient to meet the overwhelming nationwide demand. The high cost of importing and maintaining specialized medical equipment, coupled with the scarcity of trained personnel, presents a significant challenge for both public and private healthcare providers.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)