Health Workers in Bunyoro Ordered to Wear Uniforms While on Duty

What the report says

Nile Post reports that Uganda’s Ministry of Health has ordered government health workers in the Bunyoro region to wear official uniforms whenever they are on duty. The directive was announced by Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwiine during the Bunyoro/Hoima Regional Integrated Care System Platform meeting at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital. According to the report, non-compliant staff could face disciplinary measures, including possible dismissal from public service.

The ministry said the requirement is intended to make it easier for patients to distinguish legitimate health workers, improve professional standards, and support investigations into complaints of extortion in public facilities. Dr Atwiine said complaints about patients being asked for money have sometimes been hard to pursue because the alleged individuals were not in uniform. Nile Post also reported that the ministry plans to introduce name tags to further strengthen identification and accountability.

The report says senior health officials, including Health Service Commission chairperson Dr Henry Mwebesa and Director General of Health Services Prof Charles Olaro, raised concern about poor health indicators in the region and called for stronger service delivery. A ministry support supervision exercise in Bunyoro also found gaps in essential equipment and other resources at some facilities. Dr Mwebesa acknowledged continuing drug stock-outs, while saying government was working to improve the situation.

Hoima Regional Referral Hospital Director Dr Ibrahim Bwaga welcomed the supervision exercise as a way to identify gaps and improve services. The issue matters because public health facilities are expected to provide free and reliable care, and the ministry is linking staff identification, patient trust and anti-extortion efforts to broader improvements in quality of care.