By Weswa Ronnie
BULAMBULI
Health workers at Bulago Health Centre III, located in Bulago Sub-county, Bulambuli District, have resorted to using torches to deliver mothers due to lack of electricity.
Bulago Health Centre III has been in existence for over 18 years and serves a population of more than 60,000 people from sub-counties including Bulago, Namisuni, Bumasobo, Soti, among others.
This was revealed by Annet Nandudu, the in-charge of the health facility on Tuesday, during an inspection conducted by District Woman Member of Parliament, Sarah Nambozo Wekomba, area LCIII Chairperson, Julius Wanzunula, and community members.
Nandudu said they are facing challenges of delivering mothers who come at night, storing drugs that require refrigeration, and ensuring security at the facility during the night.
She said they do not have electricity at the entire facility, which is needed to carry out those duties.
Nandudu added that when mothers come for delivery at night, they tell them to go out and purchase torches for lighting before they can be attended to, since the whole facility is in darkness.
Julius Wanzunula, the LC3 Chairperson of Bulago Sub-county, expressed his bitterness with the district leaders, whom he said are the cause of this problem, in an interview with our reporter.
He said he has written a number of letters informing them about this problem, but none of them has ever responded.
The LC3 threatened to mobilize the community and stage a peaceful demonstration by marching to the district so that district leaders can respond to their outcries.
Meanwhile, Hon. Wekomba, said it was very unfortunate to hear that mothers are delivered using torches, as was done in ancient times.
“A mother is someone very important in this country. I am going to take this matter seriously to make sure that the district fixes electricity in the facility or installs solar so that the maternity ward and the entire facility can be lit,” she said.
Wekomba said the facility has a lot of government utilities and warned that all of them could be taken by thieves if electricity is not restored as quickly as possible.
Wekomba said what hurt her most as the area Member of Parliament is that the electricity line passes near the facility but has not been connected to it.
The Bulambuli District Health Officer, Martin Naimu, told our reporter on Wednesday afternoon, 24th June, 2026 at his office that the plan to install solar system is underway in the facility as they plan to apply to UEDCL since connection in all the rooms is over.
