The outreach, held at Kamukira Health Centre IV in Kabale, delivered free healthcare services to over 500 residents, treating a wide range of ailments, including eye conditions, obstetric complications, hypertension, diabetes, and various surgical cases.
KABALE, UGANDA – In a bid to bridge the healthcare gap in remote regions, the head of medical services for the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Brig. Gen. Patrick Ocen has urged the Ministry of Health to prioritise upgrading rural health facilities to national standards.
Ocen appealed the launch of a major six-day medical outreach program in Kabale District ahead of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces' annual Tarehe Sita celebrations next month.
The outreach, held at Kamukira Health Centre IV in Kabale, delivered free healthcare services to over 500 residents, treating a wide range of ailments, including eye conditions, obstetric complications, hypertension, diabetes, and various surgical cases.
Brig. Gen. Ocen explained that this was the third such medical initiative organised by the UPDF in the Kigezi sub-region. He emphasised that beyond providing direct care, the program aimed to assess and respond to the pressing health needs of the local population.
“We have treated 20,434 people so far in Kigezi,” Ocen reported, providing a detailed breakdown: 12,716 women and 7,718 men, including 70 deliveries and 142 surgical operations.
Lt. Col. Dr. Lopez Mukuye, who led the UPDF medical team on the ground, highlighted significant health concerns uncovered during the outreach. While malaria remains prevalent, he noted a high burden of neglected conditions, including surgical cases, hernias, and goitres.
“We have observed that many people are suffering from conditions that require surgical intervention but have limited access to such services,” Dr. Mukuye said. He assured patients that the military’s medical outreach would not be a one-time event, promising continued follow-up care.
Residents like Caro Twongeire, who received treatment for a chronic skin infection, expressed profound gratitude for the free, high-quality care provided by the UPDF medical team.
Brig. Gen. Ocen concluded by framing the outreach as both a service and a diagnostic tool. He called for a sustained, systemic response from the national health ministry to ensure that quality healthcare is not a privilege reserved for urban centres but a standard accessible to all Ugandans, regardless of where they live.
