Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) have raised concerns over the provision of free medical treatment to foreigners at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI). During a session chaired by Muwanga Kivumbi on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Dr. Jackson Orem, the Executive Director of UCI, informed the committee that the institute offers free treatment not only to Ugandans but also to foreigners, who constitute 20 percent of the institute’s clientele.
However, this revelation sparked scrutiny from MPs who questioned the rationale behind extending free medical services to foreigners. Amuria District Woman Representative, Suzan Amero, argued that foreigners do not pay taxes in Uganda and thus should not be exempt from medical fees. She highlighted the disparity, pointing out that even within East Africa, Ugandans do not receive free medical care. Amero referenced an incident where Members of Parliament attending the East African Community games in Arusha had to rely on insurance or cash payments for medical services.
Dr. Orem clarified that the 20 percent of foreigners receiving free treatment primarily comprise East Africans, for whom there is no established framework for charging medical fees. However, Amero emphasized that if the institute wishes to provide a subsidy for East Africans, it should do so transparently.
Muwanga Kivumbi indicated that the committee would recommend to the House to discontinue the policy of providing free treatment to foreigners and instead implement a fee-based system.
In addition to the debate over free treatment for foreigners, the committee also raised concerns about the alleged improper spending of 5 billion Ugandan shillings by the institute. Xavier Kyooma, a member of the committee, questioned the validity of the spending, noting that the lack of associated costs raises doubts about the accountability of the funds. Similarly, Gorreth Namugga expressed skepticism about the utilization of the funds, as the institute has not provided clear explanations regarding the expenditure.
