The Executive Director of Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, Dr Charles Kabugo, has attributed the rising cases of kidney failure to acute kidney injuries, often resulting from internal bleeding caused by road accidents and pregnancy-related complications.
Dr Kabugo made the revelation while appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to respond to queries arising from the Auditor General’s Report for the 2024/2025 financial year.
He disclosed that the hospital currently conducts between 80 and 90 kidney dialysis sessions daily, reflecting the growing demand for kidney treatment services.
According to Dr Kabugo, a dialysis session at the hospital costs Shs60,000. However, patients who develop kidney complications resulting from accidents and pregnancy-related bleeding receive the service free of charge.
The hospital director also raised concerns over operational challenges affecting service delivery, particularly inadequate infrastructure and limited space following the facility’s elevation from a Health Centre IV to a National Referral Hospital.
He further revealed that Kiruddu Hospital is operating with a staffing gap of 32 per cent, alongside shortages of medical equipment and other essential resources.
Dr Kabugo said these challenges continue to constrain the hospital’s capacity to effectively respond to the growing demand for specialised healthcare services.
His appearance before the committee provided an opportunity to highlight the financial, staffing and infrastructure constraints facing the hospital as Parliament scrutinises government expenditure and service delivery.
By Francis Lubega
3rd Nov 2026
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