Prime
Municipal in drive to fund power for Entebbe Hospital
Patients stranded at Entebbe Hospital male ward after the hospital was closed over power shortage recently. Photo by Martin Ssebuyira
Two months after Entebbe Hospital closed over power blackouts that left many patients stranded, Entebbe Municipal Council has launched a campaign to solicit funds to help purchase a solar panel for the hospital.
Entebbe Mayor Vincent DePaul Kayanja said they hope to collect at least Shs23 million for the solar panel to stop further occurrences such as the previous incident where the hospital had no power for a week and was forced to close down.
“We so far have Shs8 million pledges but hope to get all the funds in three months,” Mr Kayanja said during an interview yesterday. Following the closure in November, patients said they were left stranded and dismayed on finding the hospital gate closed with a notice announcing the suspension of operations over water shortage and lack of power.
“The hospital is experiencing water shortage. We can only handle emergency cases. Please bear with us and seek medical attention from other sources until the situation normalises,” the notice, signed by the hospital management, read.
Mr Kayanja said they will approach various companies and individuals for support because the hospital caters for various people such as those who go to beaches, the airport and families living around Entebbe.
“Everybody using Entebbe Road is prone to being taken to this hospital,” he said.
The mayor added that they already have an account in in one of the banks, but they are also planning to open a mobile money account.
Ms Rita Nakabugo, a resident of Lunyo Village, said the move is far better than the ideology brought by the area MP, Mr Mohammed Kawuma, to stage a strike for government to buy a generator or a solar panel.
