Human Rights activists are planning on taking Jaro Hospital in Kyaliwajjala to court for detaining a 14-year-old patient over failure to clear medical bills. Raymond Mugerwa, the 14-year-old whose parents have failed to clear a Shs 4.9million medical bill, has been held by the hospital until his parents pay the hospital bill.
He has been in hospital detention since July 23, after being involved in an accident. The motorist who drove Mugerwa to the hospital was the same person who knocked down the child, before disappearing and thereby turning the accident into a hit-and-run incident.
According to Robert Ssentongo, Mugerwa’s father, the hospital refuses to release the child until the bill is paid.
“I have been a boda boda but the owner of the motorcycle confiscated it just a day after my son got an accident. I have no money and I wish the hospital could only hear me out,” Ssentongo said.
Emmanuel Biyinzika, a doctor at the facility, confirmed that he has instructions not to release Mugerwa before all the said bills are cleared.
Dorothy Amuron, the strategic manager for Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) said the detention of Mugerwa is illegal as it transgresses the Patients and Responsibilities Charter 2019 and violates the child’s health rights under the 1995 Constitution.
The activists have vowed to take on the hospital in courts of law if the child is not released immediately. They add that this detention has taken an unimaginable toll on Mugerwa
Patrick Onyango, the spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan, acknowledged the case and say Police are already investigating the matter.
