Kiryandongo District authorities have launched key health infrastructure projects aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening medical waste management across the district.

The District has commenced the construction of combustion chambers at several health facilities to promote safe and effective disposal of medical waste. The projects, valued at 190 million shillings, were launched at Karuma Health Centre II, Kiroko Health Centre II, and Diima Health Centre III. Meanwhile, similar facilities at Kichwabugingo and Apodorwa Health Centre IIs have been completed, commissioned, and officially handed over for use.

In a move to enhance patient care and privacy, authorities also launched the partitioning of the surgical ward at Kiryandongo General Hospital. The upgrade is intended to ensure privacy for patients while promoting gender-inclusive health services.

Additional infrastructure initiatives include the installation of prepaid electricity meters at staff quarters of Kiryandongo General Hospital to help regulate and reduce electricity costs. Solar power installation at Karuma Health Centre II was also launched, a step expected to improve access to reliable energy and support uninterrupted health service delivery.

Jonathan Akweteireho, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Kiryandongo, emphasized that improving health infrastructure is a key pillar of the NRM's policy on providing accessible and high-quality healthcare to all Ugandans.

"The government of Uganda is committed to providing efficient health services to the people of Kiryandongo and Uganda at large as stipulated in the NRM manifesto," Akweteireho stated. He further explained the immediate benefit of the new facilities, adding that "the burning chambers will ensure a tidy health facility environment for both the health workers and the patients," effectively addressing long-standing medical waste management challenges.

The push for utilizing new facilities was echoed by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Anselm Kyaligonza. Kyaligonza stressed the administrative necessity of officially commissioning completed infrastructure promptly, cautioning that delays could lead to scrutiny during financial audits.

“Failure to commission completed infrastructure is an audit query we must avoid,” Kyaligonza stated. He elaborated that a lack of use could lead auditors to the conclusion that the infrastructure was never needed in the first place, a perception the district aims to prevent by ensuring all completed projects are brought into operation efficiently.

All the infrastructure developments have been funded by the Government of Uganda through the Primary Health Care (PHC) grant, underscoring the government’s commitment to strengthening health systems at the grassroots level.

District leaders expressed optimism that the projects will significantly improve working conditions for health workers and the quality of care provided to residents across Kiryandongo District.