KAMPALA, UGANDA — Mbale City Industrial Division Member of Parliament Hon. Karim Masaba has questioned the Ministry of Health’s assessment of Mbale Regional Referral Hospital as the best-performing regional referral hospital, with a performance rating of 67%.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament in Kampala on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Masaba challenged the rating, citing concerns about the hospital’s conditions and the challenges faced by patients seeking medical care.
The legislator raised concern that mothers and babies at the facility reportedly sleep on the floor, questioning whether the hospital’s reported performance reflects the experiences of patients who depend on its services.
Masaba also revealed that he had sought support from friends to donate incubators currently being used at the hospital, highlighting concerns about the availability of essential equipment for newborn care.
He further drew Parliament’s attention to a government building at the hospital that he said had remained incomplete since the COVID-19 period, raising questions about delays in completing infrastructure intended to support healthcare delivery.
The MP called on the Minister of Health to explain the criteria and parameters used to assess the performance of regional referral hospitals and determine the rankings presented by the ministry.
Masaba argued that the reported 67% rating should be examined against the conditions at the facility, particularly the availability of adequate patient accommodation, essential medical equipment and completed infrastructure.
His concerns place renewed attention on the need for transparency in assessing public health facilities, with performance indicators clearly explained to Parliament and compared with conditions experienced by patients and healthcare workers.
Masaba’s intervention calls for the Ministry of Health to clarify the methodology behind the assessment and explain how Mbale Regional Referral Hospital attained the top ranking despite the challenges he raised before Parliament.
