By our reporter
Initiative for Social and Economic Rights-ISER, a non-government organization fighting for social, economic and cultural moralities has sued Lugazi and kumi diocese for owning private medical facilities it claims detain mothers who fail to pay bills for accessed maternal health care services.
The suit cites St. Francis Hospital Nkokonjeru at Lugazi diocese and Kumi Hospital, Ongino at Kumi diocese both funded by the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau.
In the same suit filed at the High Court of Uganda at Mukono, the Attorney General, Buikwe and Kumi district local governments are also sued for failure to support their population access health services through supervision, monitoring and implementation under decentralization system.
The suit presents two residents; Prossy Namakula and Susan Akello as the key victims of detention deprived from their rights of freedom to movement and dignity by the said facilities which are registered not for profits.
ISER Programs Officer Sumayah Labila, notes that hospital detentions stem from the persistent under-investment in public health services and government’s failure to regulate the private sector.
According to the plaintiff, omission by the government to implement a comprehensive strategy that provides women with free maternal health care is a violation of national objectives and directive principles of the state policy as reflected in Article 8 of the country’s constitution.
The plaintiff wants court to direct the attorney general assume responsibility over all maternal health care bills accrued by women that seek care from facilities in areas that have no public alternatives as well as the two dioceses order their agents at the health facilities release patients detained.
One of the victims Susan Akello narrates taking her daughter who was impregnated at a tender age to give birth at Kumi hospital, and after she was operated, the hospital charged them shillings 1.3 million they solicited in a period of about one month before they were allowed to leave the hospital.
Currently, Akello lives under fear over threats of imprisonment she is getting from the village savings group where she acquired part of the money.
When contacted, the accused parties declined to comment on the matter claiming they are not aware of the suit and that none has yet served them.
The facility listed in the lawsuit receives funding from the government under public private partnership agreement.
In the financial year 2020/2021, government approved grants worthy shillings 174,409,049 to Kumi Hospital and 130,647,647,127 to Nkokonjeru Hospital.
Dr. Richard Bbosa, the Buikwe District Health Officer notes that money received by these facilities from the governments is too little to solve the many health challenges in the community.