Why Kwania North MP Ongu Tar donated a shs222m ambulance

Kwania residents have expressed joy as they welcome the new Toyota Land Cruiser UA 807DX Ambulance worth shs222million donated by James Ongu Tar, MP Kwania North.

Speaking after the handover ceremony at LA Creme, Kira in Wakiso, some residents say politicians frequently donate ambulances to fulfil campaign promises or win local support.

While the vehicle is free, the management is often left to local health centres or committees that lack stable funding for fuel and maintenance.

Drivers sometimes exploit this political gap by turning a free community asset into a personal, profit-making business as has been happening previously with politically donated ambulances.

Benson Ekwaro, a resident of Bar-Agwiciri Inomo and Benson Akolo of Ogili-Alira Aduku sub-county said they have previously experienced “common forms of ambulance misuse like exorbitant charging by drivers.”

The drivers, they say, demanded massive out-of-pocket fees from desperate families for fuel or “service charges” before transporting a patient, using the emergency vehicle to transport commercial goods like charcoal, produce, or smuggled merchandise instead of patients.

Rev. Peter Otim, parish priest for Apworocere, Minakulu Archdeaconry in Oyam district, delivered a sermon to the Kwania district delegates who had gone to witness the swearing-in of MP James Ongu Tar and Tonny Eron, MP for Kwania County.

He urged them to prioritise key developmental programmes to improve the service delivery of their electorates.

Abel Okok, a human resources professional and organisational psychologist who retired recently as assistant commissioner in the Ministry of Public Service, urged politicians to be close to the electorate.

Okok warned politicians against putting all their resources in luxuries, forgetting the ladder or steps that lifted them for five years.

Abraham Aturu, Deputy Resident Commissioner of Kwania urged the elected MPs most especially those in the NRM to be close to the district local government leaders for better service delivery.

Michael Ayipa, Jabwor County MP in Abim, pledged to be close to the Kwania district MPs.

Ayipa said he will be giving them all they need as a senior and experienced politician so that value for money is realised.

MP Tar said the donation came at a time when many people in the district are yearning for healthcare services. He cited expectant mothers and children, saying that was why he made an ambulance a priority.