MITYANA.
The Katikkiro of Buganda Kingdom Charles Peter Mayiga on Tuesday shocked Kabaka’s subjects in Ssingo County ,Mityana District when he escorted Nnalinya Sarah Kagere to officially open an empty health facility.
The facility at the level of Health Centre IV is among the three hospitals the kingdom has constructed in areas including Buddu(Masaka) and Kyaggwe( Buikwe ) . However, to the dismay of guests, the facility is still under construction and furniture like hospital beds , examination tables ,medical carts ,chairs and bedside cabinets ,which are essential for patient’s comfort and safety have not been fitted .
There is also no single medical equipment inside the facility as the entire building still empty .
An insider at Mengo , the seat of Buganda Kingdom the function was stage-managed by kingdom officials after failing to find a gift to give Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II as he marks his 70th birthday slated this Sunday.
“We looked for something big to launch as the Kabaka marks his birth day , and it wasn’t there .So, we had to quickly consider the health centre project which is almost complete and zeroed on that ,it is better than nothing ,” an official at Mengo intimated to this publication .
To confirm this , none of the kingdom officials was on Tuesday willing to explain the logic behind opening a health facility still under construction .
The Shs2.5billion facility when completed will be managed by Mengo Hospital . An engineer on site who preferred anonymity because is not authorised to speak to the media , said it will take them another two to three months to do the wiring ,plumbing and painting inside and outside the facility .
“ There is still a lot of work to do including landscaping and compound designing .Being a health facility, installation of standardised furniture and equipment will also take some time ,’’ the engineer said
By the time Katikkiro arrived at the venue , the workers were fitting glasses in windows and doors .
Speaking at the opening of the facility named after Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II at Busimbi Gombolola headquarters in Mityana Municipality , Mr Mayiga praised the Kabaka for priotising the health of his subjects .
“ This and other two new health facilities under construction are aimed at extending services closer to Kabaka’s subjects. We thank the Kabaka for being foresighted and as a kingdom, we will always remember his legacy,” he said
He criticized some moneyed people in Mityana who were plotting to grab the piece of land where the health centre was constructed .
Kabaka’s sister , Nnalinya Sarah Kagere who represented the Kabaka urged people of Mityana to consider the health centre project as a gift from the kingdom .
“This is your hospital, love it like any other precious thing that belongs to you ,” she said