President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned Bukedea Teaching Hospital and College of Health Sciences, amultibillion hospital, built by Rt. Hon. Anita Among.
The facility opened doors for its first patients on 15th January 2024.
During the commissioning, President Museveni commended the Speaker of Parliament for being a very active and innovative cadre who aims at transforming the lives of Ugandans through constructive projects.
“I’m very happy to be here and I want to congratulate my daughter for being such an active young person. First, it was a school and now a hospital,” Museveni said.
“She is very active and innovative but also listens to parents. When we were there, I was interrogating her where she gets the money from then she reminded me that I supported her with the money for the school. I said okay if I supported the school how about this one here because I don’t want my children to be in debt and corruption? She told me at the school they charge fees and it’s that money they used to build the teaching hospital,” he said.
“She has given me a quick accountability here. I’m really happy. I want to congratulate her for being active and careful. At the medical school she offers free medical care to pregnant mothers and children and the men pay, that is a very good initiative.”Museveni stressed.
The President further commended Anita Among for changing the landscape of the area, explaining that prior, the place was a market, but he ordered the local government to give the Speaker land so that she can add value to it.
“She has changed the landscape here and created employment for many. This is an innovative and imaginative young person using innovative ways to solve problems.” Museveni said.
During the same event,the President commissioned MK Block at Bukedea Comprehensive School, a facility also owned by Speaker Among. The school has over 2,000 learners.
“She offers quality education which is very much sought after. She taps children supported by NGOs and they are the ones who are here. She is a good planner because the money she gets from here is the one she used to set up a hospital which provides quality health care.”
At the same function, Anita Foundation gave President Museveni several gifts like cows in recognition of his steady leadership.
Officiating at the event Among thanked President Museveni for supporting and keeping her dreams alive. She said the President supported her financially to set up Bukedea Comprehensive School in memory of her late father.
“That school is out of you, Your Excellency. As of today, we have 2,000 students in that school. We have a vocational and teaching school and now we have a hospital. The hospital has come out of the secondary school, and I want to thank you for all your support,” the Speaker said.
“Because of the support you gave to us as Anita Foundation, we have been able to ensure that that hospital supports the community and because it supports the community that leads us to the money economy. We are treating people for free using the money we get from the school.”Among explained.
The Minister of State for Primary Education, Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu on behalf of the First Lady and the Minister of Education and Sports, Mama Janet Museveni, said the commissioning of Bukedea Teaching Hospital was one of the fruits of President Museveni’s vision of focusing more on sciences to socially and economically transform Uganda.
She also extended sincere appreciation to the Speaker for her investment in the education sector that builds capacity for the young people to become health workers and join the critical health workers force, vital for the transformation of the country’s health sector.
“We pledge our total support to ensure that Bukedea Teaching Hospital reaches greater heights.”
The Minister of State for Health (General Duties), Hon. Anita Kawooya said developing Bukedea Teaching Hospital is a great milestone to the people in the Teso sub-region since it contributes to the improvement of healthcare in the area.
“I also want to congratulate Rt. Hon. Anita Among for being a visionary leader who always follows President Museveni’s guidance to ensure transformation of Ugandans. This facility is another added vital infrastructure in improving the health sector in the country,” Hon. Kawooya said.
The NRM National Vice Chairperson-Eastern Uganda, Capt. Mike Mukula informed the President that Bukedea has been able to achieve this milestone because he gave it a district as well as an opportunity for able leaders like Rt. Hon. Among who work towards transforming the lives of the people they serve.
“Your Excellency, I would like to assure you that the Rt. Hon. Anita Among is the number one Cadre of NRM in Parliament and number one game changer of the political dynamics of this country,” Capt. Mukula noted.
The Bukedea District LC5 Chairperson, Ms. Mary Akol thanked President Museveni for commissioning the facility, saying that it remains a foundation stone for the socio-economic transformation of the country.
“Your Excellency, we are happy as Bukedea for all the support you have given to our daughter Anita Among. That facility is not for Rt. Hon. Speaker, but it serves the whole region and Uganda at large.”
Dr Emmanuel Odeke, the Bukedea District Health Officer says that the new health facility will boost health service delivery in the district, especially with the free maternity services.
He notes that while there are government health facilities across the district, they are sometimes hit by drug stockouts and personnel who may be overwhelmed by a high number of patients.
The facility is equipped with an emergency unit, laboratory, X-ray, theatre, maternity ward, and general ward.
In the training section, the hospital will be offering certificates and diplomas courses in nursing, midwifery, and laboratory training.
The teaching hospital is one of the huge investments by the Speaker of Parliament, after a comprehensive secondary and technical school housing an FM radio station
