The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) representatives in Parliament on Friday 4th October 2024 officially handed over state-of-the-art equipment to the Special Forces Command (SFC)’s Dr Ronald Bata Memorial Hospital in Nsamizi, Entebbe.
The equipment was donated to the hospital by UPDF Members of Parliament early this year.
The MPs were led by Hon. Brig Gen. Charity Bainababo who is currently pursuing a course at the National Defence College (NDC) in Jinja.
Brig. Gen. Bainababo who represented the Minister of State for Trade, Hon. Gen. Wilson Mbadi was accompanied by fellow MPs; Hon. Dr. Victoria Nekesa and Hon. DR. Jennifer Alanyo.
“This effort started when we had our first caucus meeting chaired by Hon. Gen David Muhoozi, we made contributions from our monthly deductions with an account opened in Wazalendo SACCO. In Bombo, we have delivered and handed over two theatre tables with all their accessories, in the Airforce, we managed to build a dormitory for the Air Force Senior Secondary School and we also managed to construct a laboratory in Gulu Barracks to support the troops,” Brig Gen. Bainababo said.
“As a caucus, we have had an addition to you the forces, and this will serve both the troops and the wanainchi. There’s no way the wanainchi would be turned away from accessing such services.
We thank the hospital administration for working really hard and keeping the hospital clean,” she added.
Brig. Gen. Bainababo on behalf of the UPDF Parliamentary caucus also promised to keep the name of the army shining and that they will continue lobbying for such services so that the troops are treated within the barracks.
On her part, Hon. Dr. Nekesa thanked the SFC leadership for putting up additional infrastructure to support health service delivery. She also thanked the UPDF representatives in Parliament for coming up with such ideas for improving the welfare of the soldiers.
Hon. Dr. Alanyo revealed that what started as a dream is now a reality. She added that the state-of-the-art machine will go a long way in improving the dental health of militants and their families.
She advised the machine operators to take great care of it by seeking technical advice and services from reputable organisations with advanced knowledge, especially in its maintenance.
Col. Norbert Kabugo who represented the Joint Staff Health Services, Maj Gen Ambrose Musinguzi, thanked the hospital administration for keeping the facility neat.
He also extended his appreciation to the UPDF Members of Parliament for this exemplary work. He said as Joint Staff Health Services, they will do what it takes to support Dr Ronald Bata Memorial Hospital because it’s one of the most active and dependable directorates among the other directorates of health services.
The Director of Human Resource Management-SFC, Col John Mango Baraza, who represented the Commander SFC, welcomed the delegation and thanked them for donating and handing over the dental unit machine worth Shs45 million.
The Director of Dr. Ronald Bata Memorial Hospital, Capt. Dr. Isaac Tukesiga thanked His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his excellent strategy of having such hospitals in formation, thus bringing services closer to the troops. He also thanked the leadership of SFC for the constant support rendered to the hospital.
Dr Tukesiga informed the delegation that the machine they donated has since treated 736 patients in the last 3 months with civilian patients being the highest. He thanked the MPs for their generous contribution to the medical field.
The UPDF Members of Parliament include; Gen. Edward Katumba, Gen. David Muhoozi, Gen. Wilson Mbadi, Lt. Gen. James Mugira, Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma, Maj. Gen. Henry Matsiko, Brig. Gen. Charity Bainababo, Col. Dr Victoria Nekesa and Lt. Col. Dr Jeniffer Alanyo.
The ceremony was also attended by among others, Directors of the various departments, senior and junior officers and the general staff of Dr. Ronald Bata Memorial Hospital, Nsamizi.
