Kigulu North MP Buys Land for Health Centre III in Kidago

By Mumbya Daniel, Our Reporter | Eastern Uganda

IGANGA — The Member of Parliament for Kigulu North Constituency, Samuel Kungu, has purchased two acres of land to pave the way for construction of a Health Centre III in Kidago Sub-county, Iganga District.

The land acquisition is expected to meet one of the key requirements under Ministry of Health guidelines, which require adequate land to be secured before government can establish and equip public health infrastructure.

Kungu said the purchase addresses one of the two major priorities he has been pursuing for Kidago Sub-county, alongside the construction of a seed secondary school.

“As a sub-county, we had two major issues, mainly the health centre and seed school. So far, we have moved a step on the health centre,” Kungu said. “I will fight hard to ensure that by the end of this financial year, the health facility is under construction or built. Then I will table the issue of the seed school on the floor of Parliament, even if it has already been moved to a certain stage.”

Kidago is among the sub-counties created during the 2016–2021 political term and has continued operating without its own Health Centre III, relying on facilities in neighbouring sub-counties.

Residents currently depend largely on the mother Health Centre III in Nambale Sub-county and Bugino Health Centre in Nabitende Sub-county, which local leaders say are far from many communities in Kidago.

The lack of a nearby health facility has particularly affected pregnant women and other patients who have to travel long distances to access medical services.

Kidago Sub-county Chairperson Francis Kyaterekera commended Kungu for securing the land, describing the development as an important milestone for the area. “Many pregnant women have suffered without hope, but now at least they are about to reach the promised land through our Member of Parliament,” Kyaterekera said.

He, however, said the sub-county still faces other challenges, including limited access to clean water. “Kidago Sub-county still has a number of challenges like clean water. We require more boreholes, at least one in every village, and piped water, which has been delayed for the last two financial years,” Kyaterekera said.

The two-acre site provides space for the construction of a standard Health Centre III, which is designed under the Ministry of Health framework to serve a sub-county population.

Local leaders said securing the land is an important first step towards bringing government health services closer to residents and reducing the distance patients currently travel for treatment.

The event was attended by representatives from the Office of the Resident District Representative, district leadership and councillors at various levels.