Health Ministry: Dr Robert Candia Was Not Suspended

What the report says

The Ministry of Health in Uganda has said that Dr Robert Candia, a senior dental surgeon at Arua Regional Referral Hospital, has not been suspended and remains at work. The clarification was issued in a public statement on October 16, 2026, and was released through Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine.

According to the ministry, reports that Dr Candia had been removed from duty were incorrect. The statement followed claims linked to a routine monitoring visit by Minister of State for Health for General Duties Anifah Kawooya, during which an alleged incident at the hospital was reported in some accounts. The ministry said no suspension has been carried out.

The ministry also stressed that any disciplinary action involving public officers must follow established government and public service procedures. Dr Atwine urged health workers to maintain professionalism and continue delivering uninterrupted care to patients.

The clarification matters because it addresses a reported dispute involving a health worker, hospital leadership, and the ministry, while reaffirming formal rules for handling staff discipline in public service. More broadly, ministries in Uganda commonly issue such statements to correct disputed reports and protect institutional processes, though the article did not provide further details on whether any separate inquiry is under way.