Kitagwenda’s Long Road to Healthcare as Residents Wait for District Hospital

What the report says

Nile Post reports that residents of Kitagwenda District in western Uganda are still travelling long distances for medical care, seven years after the district was created from Kamwenge in 2019. The report says the district has no general hospital, and some communities walk 15 to 20 kilometres to reach the nearest public health facility, with patients often turning to neighbouring districts for treatment.

According to Nile Post, Kitagwenda has an estimated population of about 200,000 people across 13 sub-counties and town councils and 53 parishes. Its public health network remains limited: only four sub-counties have Health Centre IIIs, another four have Health Centre IIs, and several areas reportedly have no government facility. Ntara Health Centre IV is the highest-level public facility in the district, but officials say it cannot handle many specialist services, major surgery, advanced diagnostics or blood transfusions.

District Health Officer Dr Irene Kahimakazi told Nile Post that the lack of a district hospital is the main barrier to healthcare delivery, while District Chairperson Ephrance Kenyonyozi said mothers and children are especially affected by delays in emergency care. Chief Administrative Officer Moses RK Dalili said the district has continued engaging government ministries and believes Kitagwenda meets the population threshold for a district hospital.

The issue matters because Uganda’s referral system relies on district hospitals to provide broader inpatient, surgical, maternity and emergency services. Nile Post reports that Kitagwenda leaders want Ntara Health Centre IV upgraded and lower-level facilities expanded to reduce referrals to Kamwenge, Ibanda, Fort Portal and Mbarara.