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Mukono District has strengthened its emergency medical response services following the official deployment and handover of government ambulances aimed at improving healthcare access and reducing delays in emergency evacuation.
Lukooya Mukoome and other officials.
The handover ceremony was presided over by the Chairperson LCV of Mukono District, Hon. Francis Lukooya Mukoome, assisted by the District Executive Committee led by the District Vice Chairperson LCV, Hon. Tumwesige Innocent, and the District Male Councillor representing Ntenjeru Kisoga Town Council and Speaker of Mukono District Council, Hon. Hajji Asuman Muhumuza, who served as the chief guest during the event.
The ceremony was attended by district technical staff led by the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Ddamba Henry, his deputy Mr. Muhumuza Stephen, the District Health Officer, Dr. Mulindwa Stephen, district ambulance coordinators led by Ms. Doreen, and the drivers assigned to operate the ambulances.
The Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Ddamba Henry, officially introduced the ambulances and their assigned drivers, explaining that the vehicles were provided by the Government of Uganda to improve emergency health services and ensure patients receive faster medical attention. He noted that the ambulances were being handed over for proper use in serving communities across the district and called upon health workers and drivers to handle them responsibly.
The District Health Officer, Dr. Mulindwa Stephen, explained that the ambulances were strategically allocated to different regions to improve emergency coverage and reduce delays in patient evacuation. According to the district health deployment plan, Mukono South’s ambulance services will operate from Ntenjeru Hospital, while Mukono North’s ambulance will be stationed at Katogo Health Centre IV. Two additional ambulances will continue serving the municipalities to support Mukono General Hospital, which handles a high number of referrals and road accident emergencies.
The district ambulance coordinator, Ms. Doreen, highlighted operational challenges affecting ambulance services, including high fuel costs, poor internet connectivity affecting the dispatch system, and the increasing number of emergency cases received at Mukono General Hospital. She noted that although ambulances stationed in remote areas may receive fewer cases, they remain critical in ensuring rapid response for communities located far from the district headquarters.
According to Ms. Doreen, the introduction of ambulances has already contributed to a significant reduction in post-crash deaths within the district, dropping from 28 percent to below 10 percent. Leaders also discussed plans to recruit additional ambulance drivers, improve fuel management, and explore the introduction of electric ambulances and ambulance boats to serve island and lakeside communities where transportation costs remain high.
While officially handing over the ambulances and dispatching them to their respective health facilities, Hon. Francis Lukooya Mukoome called upon the Government of Uganda to provide additional support to Mukono District’s health sector. He emphasized that Mukono’s location along a major highway and its surrounding island communities place a heavy burden on local health facilities due to the large number of accident victims and referrals received.
The Chairperson appealed for increased government investment in upgrading health facilities, deploying more consultants, and assigning more doctors to Health Centre III facilities to improve access to quality healthcare across the district.
Speaking during the event, Hon. Lukooya stressed the importance of extending government services to all communities so that residents can directly benefit from public healthcare programs. He noted that people in areas such as Katosi and Ntenjeru should be able to access emergency services without depending on ambulances traveling long distances from Mukono Town.
He also observed that visible and accessible health services help strengthen public trust in government programs and improve service delivery outcomes.
The ambulances are expected to improve emergency response along major roads, support faster referrals for critically ill patients, and strengthen healthcare delivery across Mukono District.
It should be recalled that during the swearing-in ceremony for the new district leaders held at Namanoga Public Primary School in Seeta Namuganga Sub-county, Hon. Francis Lukooya Mukoome pledged in his maiden speech that he would return ambulances to their respective service entities instead of keeping them centralized at Mukono General Hospital a promise now fulfilled.
The deployment of ambulances across Mukono District marks a significant step forward in strengthening emergency medical services and improving access to timely healthcare, particularly for remote and high-risk communities. As district leaders continue to advocate for greater government support, the move reflects a strong commitment to decentralizing health services, reducing preventable deaths, and ensuring that every resident can access lifesaving emergency care when needed. With continued investment, coordination, and responsible management, Mukono District is positioning itself to build a more responsive and resilient healthcare system.
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