MUBENDE: Mubende Reginal Referal Hospital Ambulance is stuck in Garage as mechanic a one Hajj Hamadah Kisitu demands over eleven millions.
Hajj Hamadah, a seasoned mechanic at Nakivubo Central Auto Spares Garage revealed he has been chasing payment from the hospital for over five years.
A two-month standoff between Mubende Regional Referral Hospital and a car mechanic has left a critical ambulance grounded at a Kampala garage, with the mechanic threatening legal action over unpaid dues amounting to Shs11 million.
Hajj Hamadah Kisitu, a seasoned mechanic at Nakivubo Central Auto Spares Garage, revealed he has been chasing payment from the hospital for over five years.
Mr Kisitu, who has repaired the hospital’s vehicles for 15 years, expressed frustration over repeated delays in settling his invoices.
The ambulance, registration number UG 4478 M, has remained in Mr Kisitu’s garage since November 3, 2024.
Mr Kisitu lamented that not only has he borne the daily cost of parking, but he has also incurred debts while awaiting payment.
“I now owe the garage and spare parts providers. Every night, I pay Shs3,000 for parking. I don’t have the money, yet the hospital promised to pay me long ago,” he said.
The mechanic detailed the dire state of the ambulance when he first received it.
“It was heartbreaking to see a vehicle meant to save lives in such a terrible condition,” he added.
Mr Kisitu explained that the Shs11 million owed to him includes past work on other hospital vehicles.
“I repaired some cars years ago, and they still haven’t paid me. If they settled this debt, I could complete work on the ambulance,” he said.
According to the mechanic, the hospital’s contract stipulates payments must be made within 30 days of completing repairs, a condition he claims has been consistently ignored.
“If they fail to pay me soon, I will have no choice but to take them to court,” Kisitu vowed, urging the Ministry of Health to intervene and ensure mechanics contracted by hospitals are treated fairly.
The grounded ambulance has sparked outrage among Mubende residents, who accuse the hospital of negligence.
Local leaders warn that the absence of the ambulance could cost lives, especially as Mubende prepares to host President Museveni for Liberation Day celebrations.
“We cannot tolerate such inefficiency. The Ministry of Health allocates budgets to these hospitals every financial year,” said a concerned resident only identified as Navubya.
Mr Onesmus Kibaya, the senior hospital administrator, admitted challenges in clearing the garage debt
Mubende Woman Member of Parliament Hope Grania Nakazibwe pledged to investigate the matter.
“I will speak to the hospital director, Dr Emmanuel Batiibwe, to understand the issue. Two months is too long for an ambulance to be stuck in a garage,” she said.
Senior Hospital Administrator Onesimus Kibaya confirmed the hospital’s financial constraints but urged Kisitu to formally escalate his complaint.
“We have three ambulances, but only one is operational. The other two, including this one, are in garages. While we acknowledge the debt, Kisitu should write to us instead of rushing to the media,” Mr Kibaya said.
He noted that the delay in payment was due to budgetary constraints. “The ambulance was received after funds for the quarter had been released. We are now awaiting additional funding,” he explained.
Mr Kibaya assured the public that during emergencies, the hospital partners with organisations such as the Red Cross and the army to provide backup ambulances.
While the hospital has reduced its reliance on the national referral hospital due to the availability of specialists, the lack of functional ambulances remains a significant hurdle.
“In the past, we had four referrals a month due to a lack of specialists. Now, thanks to the Ministry of Health, we have experts stationed here. However, we urgently need more reliable ambulances,” Mr Kibaya added.
As the situation remains unresolved, residents and leaders alike are calling for swift action to address the hospital’s operational inefficiencies and ensure that critical services are not disrupted.
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