What Is Inside? Joel Ssenyonyi Including Other NUP MPs Denied Access To Lubowa International Specialised Hospital

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi and other opposition MPs were blocked from accessing the Lubowa International Specialized Hospital despite a directive from the Minister of Health allowing them to tour the facility.

The MPs had planned the visit as part of their parliamentary oversight role to inspect the progress of the controversial hospital project and establish its current status.

Before the visit, Ssenyonyi had written to Finasi-ISHU Construction SPV Limited, the company handling the project, informing them about the planned inspection and requesting a guided tour.

The contractor later sought guidance from the Ministry of Health on how to handle the MPs’ request, saying the ministry was the government representative under the project agreements.

Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi responded by directing the contractor to allow the legislators access and provide them with a guided tour while observing health and safety measures.

However, when Ssenyonyi and the MPs arrived at the facility, they found the entrance closed and were reportedly unable to enter the hospital premises.

Ssenyonyi said security officers at the site made phone calls seeking clearance, but no permission was eventually granted for the MPs to proceed with their inspection.

The Opposition leader questioned why the contractor would seek guidance from the minister and later ignore the instructions given, saying the situation raised concerns about transparency surrounding the project.

The blocked visit has renewed debate over access to the Lubowa hospital, a project that has attracted significant public interest because of the large amounts of government funding involved.

Parliament has previously raised questions about the hospital’s progress, completion timelines and funding requirements. The project has received billions of shillings, with government continuing to provide support as construction continues.

Ssenyonyi said the repeated challenges in accessing the facility make it difficult for Parliament to independently verify the actual progress of the project. He has promised that the matter will be raised for further discussion when Parliament resumes.