KABALE – Health professionals in the Kigezi Sub-Region have voiced growing concerns over rising levels of alcohol consumption and malnutrition among community members.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This was highlighted during a press briefing ahead of the 4th Annual Kigezi Regional Health Sector Joint Performance Review Mission (JRM), an annual forum that brings together stakeholders from across the region to evaluate healthcare services.
During the press conference, held on Monday, August 31, at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, Mr. Johnson Bitungwa, Principal Clinician and Head of the Mental Health Unit at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, stated that most of the cases admitted annually at the hospital are linked to alcohol and substance abuse.
Mr. Bitungwa attributed the rise in cases to unregulated alcohol production within the Kigezi Sub-Region and called for stricter regulation of alcohol sales, including the implementation of mandatory opening hours for bars.
“In the community, we see the production of illicit alcohol. They mix various ingredients, and after consumption, you hear someone say they don’t remember how they reached home,” Bitungwa explained.
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Kabale Regional Referral Hospital’s Executive Consultant, Dr. Anne Marion Namutebi, noted that alcohol is a “common denominator” for many illnesses treated at the facility.
She specifically cited mental illnesses, chronic liver disease, pancreatitis, malnutrition, and physical injuries, among other debilitating conditions directly linked to excessive alcohol consumption.
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Rubanda District Secretary for Health and Education, Mr. Obed Mutatiina Kitabutuuka, emphasized the need for local governments to enact by-laws regulating the sale and consumption of alcohol to help curb the problem.
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Meanwhile, Rubanda District Health Officer, Dr. David Mporampora, highlighted that aside from alcoholism, the region is also experiencing a rise in malnutrition cases.
He attributed this to the community’s failure to utilize the region’s abundant food resources, despite large-scale agricultural activities.
“The Bakiga grow and produce a lot, but they sell almost everything and leave very little for domestic consumption. We plan to embark on mass sensitization campaigns to address this issue,” he said.
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Rubanda District will host the 4th Annual Kigezi Regional Health Sector Joint Performance Review Mission (JRM), scheduled to take place over three days starting September 1, 2026.
The JRM is convened by Kabale Regional Referral Hospital on behalf of the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with regional health departments and development partners. Its purpose is to assess healthcare service delivery, rank district performance, and identify solutions to key health challenges affecting communities.
Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi is expected to formally open the event, which will be attended by medical officials, political leaders, Ministry of Health representatives, media personnel, and other stakeholders.
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