Ambulance operations at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital are under strain following a reduction in funding, hospital management has revealed.
While appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) on March 19, 2026, the hospital’s Executive Director, Dr. James Elima, explained that the limited budget is affecting emergency response services across the Greater Masaka region. The facility currently receives Shs36 million per quarter, which caters for fuel, maintenance of five ambulances, generator operation, and other outreach activities.
Dr. Elima noted that the most significant challenge stems from a sharp cut in fuel allocation by the Ministry of Health, from Shs5 million to Shs1 million. He said the reduced amount is only sufficient to handle one or two referral trips, leaving many patients without timely emergency transport.
He further highlighted the need for a Type C ambulance — a fully equipped vehicle designed for advanced life support and critical care transfers — to improve emergency response capacity. In addition, the hospital is grappling with staffing shortages, particularly in the maternity ward, where only 32 midwives handle more than 800 deliveries each month, compared to facilities such as Kyotera District that have significantly higher staffing levels.
Kalungu West MP, Hon. Joseph Ssewungu, raised concerns about the financial burden placed on patients who require urgent ambulance services. He revealed that in some cases, leaders and well-wishers are forced to contribute towards fuel costs, which can reach at least Shs500,000 for a return trip, making it unaffordable for many rural residents.
The committee’s Deputy Chairperson, Hon. Goreth Namugga, criticized the practice of charging patients for ambulance services at a regional referral hospital, noting that such facilities are expected to provide free emergency care. She warned that patients in critical condition risk delays in receiving care if they cannot immediately raise the required funds.
Hon. Richard Wanda, MP for Bungokho Central, called on the Ministry of Health to account for the drastic reduction in fuel funding, questioning the rationale behind a cut of nearly 80 percent and its impact on service delivery.
Meanwhile, Kasilo County MP, Hon. Elijah Okupa, urged authorities to reconsider the deployment of water ambulances, particularly in lake regions. He pointed out that these vessels consume large amounts of fuel and have remained largely unused due to lack of funding, with some sitting idle for years.
Lawmakers have now called for urgent government intervention to restore funding and ensure that emergency medical services remain accessible to all Ugandans.
