By Kenneth Wamatoyi
JINJA
The Jinja District Health Officer has initiated legal proceedings against the District LCV Chairman, Moses Batwala with a letter of intention to sue dated 8th April, 2025.
In the letter, Dr. Peter Diogo Nantamu through Habakurama & Company Advocates, accuses the LCV Boss of uttering defamatory statements against his person on a radio talk show on 28th March, 2025 at Bridge Radio.
In the said radio talk show, Batwala allegedly accused Dr. Diogo of chairing a meeting at Buwenge General Hospital in which he together with Dr. Bameka incited Medical staff to lay down their tools.
Dr. Diogo now wants Batwala to apologize to him before the same Radio Station, pay Shs200,000,000 in general damages and Shs15,000,000 legal fees within five days from 8th April or be sued in the Courts of Law.
In response, Batwala, has dismissed the legal notice asserting that Dr. Dyogo had not been adequately fulfilling his duties at the hospital.
He noted that, under his leadership, a new officer-in-charge had already been appointed to oversee the hospital’s operations. Batwala also revealed that some nurses at the facility were currently under police investigation for alleged theft of medicines.
He described the hospital as being in a state of disrepair due to negligence among the nursing staff and a lack of effective leadership from Dr. Dyogo.
Batwala further accused Dr. Dyogo of withholding the ambulance fuel card belonging to a KOICA-donated district ambulance. The card, which was eventually returned after two years—along with fuel worth UGX 5 million—was initially supposed to be handed over to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). The matter prompted intervention from the Ministry of Health.
According to Batwala, patients have long endured suffering due to frequent referrals to Jinja Main Hospital and inadequate healthcare services at Buwenge. He also demanded accountability for the use of district vaccines.
He confirmed that the legal notice he received on behalf of Dr. Dyogo and Dr. Bameka was authored by Habakurama and Company Advocates. Batwala emphasized that, under the Local Government Act and the Constitution, it is his duty to supervise all district employees paid with taxpayers’ money.
“Anyone unwilling to work should resign and report to the District Chairman,” Batwala said.
Reiterating his commitment to improving healthcare in the district, Batwala stressed the need for transparency and streamlined service delivery at Buwenge General Hospital. He added that Dr. Dyogo will be subjected to the District Disciplinary Committee for further review.
In response to the legal notice demanding UGX 200 million in compensation, Batwala responded defiantly:
“I will not pay them that money. If they want, let them take me to court.”
