Uganda: Tororo General Hospital Seeks Referral Status as Members of Parliament Flag Hygiene Gaps
Health workers and administrators at Tororo General Hospital have formally petitioned the Parliament of Uganda to advocate for the facility’s immediate elevation to a regional referral hospital. The appeal is grounded in the hospital’s expanding infrastructure, available land for development, and the overwhelming demand from a rapidly growing catchment population.
This request was highlighted by the hospital’s Senior Nursing Officer, Stella Agembi, during an official oversight visit by Parliament’s Committee on Health on Wednesday, September 09, 2026.
The Case for an Upgrade
Agembi argued that Tororo General Hospital is strategically positioned for the upgrade because it currently serves an immediate population of approximately 63,000 people, alongside an influx of patients traveling from five neighboring districts and across the border from Kenya.
“The population we serve comes from most parts of the Bukedi sub-region and other districts, bringing the total catchment area to over one million people. People continuously demand specialised services we are not currently able to provide as a general hospital, forcing them to travel long distances,” said Agembi.
She noted that the facility sits on adequate land—over 10 acres available for immediate expansion. Achieving regional referral status would allow the hospital to improve its staffing structure, acquire advanced medical equipment, and drastically enhance its overall infrastructure.
Members of Parliament (MPs) agreed that Tororo General Hospital was better positioned for an upgrade than other facilities visited during their regional tour. They commended the hospital’s existing diagnostic equipment and acknowledged the significant support it receives from key development partners, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Baylor College of Medicine, and the International Development Research Centre.
Hygiene and Environmental Concerns
Despite the strong infrastructural case, the parliamentary committee raised serious concerns regarding poor hygiene, particularly within the sensitive maternity ward and outpatient departments.
“In all the hospitals we have visited, you are performing better—except for hygiene. What we saw at the maternity ward and outpatient department can push away patients; I urge you to prioritize the washrooms,” stated Hon. Hope Nakazibwe, the committee’s deputy chairperson.
She strongly advised the administration to allocate a portion of its Primary Health Care funds toward constructing and maintaining clean toilets, ensuring that dedicated cleaners are present daily. MPs warned that poor hygiene in the maternity ward could expose vulnerable women to sepsis—a severe, life-threatening condition triggered by the body’s extreme response to infection.
Additionally, the committee instructed Tororo General Hospital to immediately cease using formalin to disinfect its open placenta pit, warning that the outdated practice poses significant environmental and health risks.
Extortion Allegations at Masafu General Hospital
Following their visit to Tororo, the legislators proceeded to Masafu General Hospital in Busia District, where they uncovered alarming reports of extortion. Locals alleged they were being charged up to Shs200,000 before bodies could be released from the hospital mortuary. Others reported paying up to Shs40,000 simply to keep bodies at the facility for weeks—a practice hospital staff claimed was adopted from neighboring Kenya.
The committee tasked the district leadership with urgently investigating the matter and making a definitive ruling on whether to formalize an approved mortuary fee system or discontinue the charges entirely.
