Doctors Warn Against Public Shaming of Health Workers During Facility Inspections

What the report says

Nile Post reports that the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has cautioned government officials against publicly confronting or exposing health workers during inspections of public health facilities before complaints are properly investigated. In a six-page letter dated July 30, 2026, addressed to Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara Ateényi, UMA President Prof Frank Asiimwe said the association supports action against corruption, absenteeism and poor service delivery, but warned that accountability must follow evidence and due process.

According to the report, UMA objected to inspection teams entering hospitals with security officers and media cameras, questioning staff in public and appearing to reach conclusions before formal inquiries are completed. The doctors’ body said such practices could infringe health workers’ rights to fair administrative treatment and a fair hearing. It also raised concern about filming patients in wards, maternity units and consultation rooms, arguing that clinical spaces require privacy and dignity. Nile Post noted that recent unannounced visits, including one to Mbarara Hospital involving Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi, followed complaints from patients and caregivers about neglect, illegal payments and poor access to services.

UMA also argued that some problems blamed on individual workers reflect wider weaknesses in the health system, including shortages of staff, medicines, equipment and diagnostic services. The association said absence from duty should be checked against rosters, leave records and work schedules before being treated as misconduct, and cited staffing gaps in public facilities as an important context.

The association proposed a joint inspection framework involving relevant ministries, professional bodies and clinical leaders. Its recommendations include limiting cameras in clinical areas, verifying staff deployment records, investigating complaints before arrests, and recording system failures alongside individual misconduct. The issue matters because it sits at the intersection of patient protection, public accountability and the legal rights of health workers.