Tragedy at Mulago: Justice Mulyagonja’s Painful Reckoning Exposes Deep Crisis in Uganda’s Health Sector
However, her remarks have stirred public outrage not only for the emotional weight they carry, but because of her own judicial record. Justice Mulyagonja was part of a panel that dismissed a petition by the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER), which had challenged the government’s decision to fund the construction of a private specialized hospital in Lubowa instead of investing in public facilities like Mulago.
Uganda Today Edition: Tragedy at Mulago: Justice Mulyagonja’s Painful Reckoning Exposes Deep Crisis in Uganda’s Health Sector
By Uganda Today Reporter
Date: May 23, 2025
KAMPALA – Uganda is once again confronted with the stark reality of its ailing healthcare system following the tragic death of a respected lawyer and senior citizen — husband to Court of Appeal Justice Irene Mulyagonja — at the country’s flagship referral facility, Mulago National Hospital.
At the requiem mass, Justice Mulyagonja delivered a heart-wrenching testimony of her husband’s final moments, revealing a shocking lack of medical equipment and essential care at Mulago. Her words painted a grim picture of a hospital once hailed as the crown jewel of Uganda’s public health system, now reduced to a shadow of itself.
“The conditions were horrifying. We were helpless. The equipment we needed wasn’t there. The professionalism we expected wasn’t there,” she lamented.
However, her remarks have stirred public outrage not only for the emotional weight they carry, but because of her own judicial record. Justice Mulyagonja was part of a panel that dismissed a petition by the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER), which had challenged the government’s decision to fund the construction of a private specialized hospital in Lubowa instead of investing in public facilities like Mulago.
In her judgment, Mulyagonja upheld the government’s discretion, stating that it was within its rights to decide where and how to allocate public funds. This decision allowed the continuation of the Lubowa project — a hospital that remains shrouded in controversy, incomplete, and inaccessible to ordinary Ugandans.
Now, in a tragic twist of fate, her husband has become a victim of the very system her judgment helped preserve.
A viral post on social media has highlighted this contradiction. “Had Mulyagonja faulted the government in that landmark judgment, and if the Lubowa project had been halted and funds redirected to Mulago, perhaps her husband and countless others would still be alive,” one citizen wrote.
The tragedy is emblematic of the broader systemic issues in Uganda’s healthcare sector: underfunded public hospitals, chronic stock-outs of essential medicines, decaying infrastructure, and the exodus of medical professionals due to poor working conditions.
A Broader Crisis
This case has rekindled debate over government priorities in healthcare investment. While billions were allocated to a single hospital project — still unfinished — national referral hospitals like Mulago continue to operate without critical equipment such as dialysis machines, ICU beds, and basic medicines.
Ugandans have expressed both sympathy and anger. The emotional weight of Justice Mulyagonja’s personal loss is undeniable. But for many, it also highlights the consequences of decisions made at the highest levels — decisions that directly affect lives.
As the country mourns, the question remains: How many more Ugandans must die before the government fully invests in the healthcare system that serves the majority?
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