Kilembe Hospital: Protests rage across Kasese over deactivation of Kilembe Mines Hospital

BY RWENZORI DAILY

A section of residents in the greater Kilembe sub-county on Sunday thronged Bulembia Division headquarters for a meeting and asked the leaders to follow up the issue of Kilembe Mines Hospital in the office of the President.

The residents mostly from the Sub-counties of Kilembe, Nyakabingo, Rukooki, Mbunga and Bulembia Division said they were not happy with the Ministry of Health’s decision to have government’s support withdrawn from the health facility.

On December 02, last year, the Ministry of Health wrote to the Executive Director Joint Medical Stores informing him of its decision to deactivate Kilembe Mines Hospital and transfer the EMHS credit line worth shillings 353,491,221 to other health facilities in Kasese Municipality and Kasese district.

Now, the disappointed residents want the leaders to engage the President so that the decision is reversed because the facility gives health services to a wide range of people.

Speaking to Rwenzori Daily last evening, Mr. Richard Bomera, the Local Council III Chairperson for Bulembia Division confirmed the development saying that the locals want the health facilities to be reinstated.

According to him, the residents also resolved to hold a peaceful demonstration to show to the world that they are against the ministry’s decision.

The protests have already been taken to social media with a number of stakeholders and concerned residents sharing different opinions in regard to the circumstance under which the Ministry of Health reached the conclusion to withdraw government’s support from Kilembe Hospital.

On Sunday evening, social media was oversupplied with flyers advocating for the reactivation of Kilembe Mines Hospital.