The Public Accounts Committee (Central) of Uganda's Parliament has taken a decisive step toward accountability, resolving to summon former executive directors of Mbale and Kabale Regional Referral Hospitals to answer audit queries stemming from their time in office.
The directive was issued on November 4, 2026, by the committee's vice-chairperson, Sarah Lwansasula, who represents Jinja City as a Woman Member of Parliament under the National Unity Platform. Her ruling followed appearances by the two hospitals before the committee, where newly appointed officials had been brought in to respond to Auditor General Edward Akol's reports for the 2024/25 financial year.
Lawmakers Question the Arrangement
Several legislators found the setup problematic, arguing that incoming managers should not be forced to account for decisions made before their appointments. Among the most vocal was Fredrick Angura, the Member of Parliament for Tororo South under the National Resistance Movement, who contended that holding current hospital administrators responsible for queries tied to earlier periods would be both unfair and procedurally flawed.
The committee ultimately agreed with that reasoning, setting the stage for the former directors to face questions directly.
Mbale's Former Director Absent
In the case of Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, lawmakers were informed that the former executive director, Dr Stephen Obbo, was in India receiving medical treatment and therefore unavailable. His absence underscored the committee's determination to pursue the matter through formal summons rather than allowing the inquiry to stall.
The decision reflects a broader push by the Public Accounts Committee to close loopholes in how public institutions respond to audit findings. By requiring the officials who were actually in charge during the periods under review to appear, the committee aims to ensure that accountability rests with the right individuals.
What Comes Next
The summons will require the former directors of both Mbale and Kabale Regional Referral Hospitals to appear before the committee and address the specific queries raised in the Auditor General's reports. The move signals that Parliament intends to follow the paper trail wherever it leads, even when the officials involved have since left their posts.
For the hospitals themselves, the development offers a measure of relief to current management, who can now focus on service delivery while the committee examines the records of their predecessors. For the public, the proceedings represent another test of whether audit recommendations translate into real consequences.
The committee is expected to set dates for the appearances in the coming weeks, with the Mbale case likely to proceed once Dr Obbo returns from medical treatment abroad.
