Hundreds of people from all walks of life convened at Flagship Piazza Hotel in Bushenyi to celebrate Easter Monday. This is where Dr. Celestine Barigye, Director of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), had held a Thanksgiving Mass and a fundraising event toward the completion of Bunyarigi Center church location in Bushenyi Ishaka Municipality.
The ceremony was presided over by the Mbarara Archbishop, His Grace Lambert Bainomugisha, who assured the faithful of the plans that the Almighty God has for them. His Grace urged Dr. Barigye’s family not to despair but to know that God knows of the difficult moment his servant is going through and urged him to use the second chance to achieve more.
Bishop Johnson Twinomujuni of West Ankole reminded followers to love one another in times of good and bad times. He noted that in these contemporary times, families have broken down and some are on the verge of breaking down due to a void of trust and faithfulness. The Bishop then thanked Ms. Ruth Birungi, the wife of Dr. Barigye, for being by his side from the day he fell sick up to his recovery.
Ms. Ruth Birungi acknowledged the support from the MRRH team when their boss fell sick. The team, she said, managed to collect about 26 million to support the director. Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha, the Managing Director of the National Water & Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), who also happens to be Dr. Barigye’s cousin, revealed that there has been tremendous change in the health of the director.
“When you hear Ruth (Dr. Barigye’s wife) speaking emotionally about the husband, you shouldn’t entirely blame her. It’s what she encountered before and in the process of her husband’s recovery. But we appreciate the difference we are seeing now,” said Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha.
Hon. Francis Mwijukye, the Buhweju Member of Parliament, and his counterpart Dr. Ninkusiima JohnPaul represented Ankole legislators. The duo admitted that Dr. Barigye’s Thanksgiving is worth considering for what God has rewarded him and what he has done for the government.
Hon. Mwijukye criticized the government for recognizing people whom he claimed don’t deserve it and leaving humble servants.
“In this country, there are people appointed to head referral hospitals, but you find them concentrating on their private hospitals. They don’t care whether there are drugs in government hospitals as long as their private facilities are fully equipped. Whenever patients come, they send them to personal clinics. I am happy that Dr. Barigye, you are not part of them,” he said.
Dr. Musa Kayondo, Senior Gynaecologist, and Fistula Surgeon who represented the hospital and Mbarara University community, said the hospital has witnessed tremendous change under Dr. Barigye’s leadership.
“You found Mbarara Referral Hospital was like any other general referral hospital, but we are now slightly below because of a wide range of super specialized services like oncology; we are the only hospital offering cancer services in southwestern Uganda,” Dr. Kayondo.
Dr. Celestine Barigye applauded every support from his workplace, Ministry of Health, State House, religious leaders, and all friends. He said that he has every reason to thank God since he is still living.
In her message delivered by the Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magezi, Rt Hon Prime Minister Robina Nabbanja says that Dr. Barigye has been leading by example.
“Dr. Barigye is one of our public servants with high integrity. He has not been involved in corruption scandals,” her message read in part.
The Prime Minister urged the medical fraternity to borrow a leaf from Dr. Barigye’s book. She prayed for his total recovery and contributed 10 million towards his Thanksgiving. It’s estimated that over 45 million shillings were generated, and the proceeds will go towards the completion of Bunyarigi Church.
Dr. Celestine Barigye was diagnosed with a swelling on the brain in March last year and was successfully treated at Mulago National Referral Hospital after undergoing a series of Computed Scan (CT) investigations at MRRH.
He was later flown to Medicana Hospital in Turkey where he received additional treatment. He resumed his work in August last year and was recently sworn in as the Secretary to the MRRH board, a function witnessed by Hon. Anifa Kawooya, the State Minister of Health In-Charge of General Duties, who represented the Minister of Health.
