The Right to Health is Justiciable in Uganda

Our rights have been violated a lot in this country that when things like this declaration are made, we tend to rejoice because then we think that some one is looking out for us. Truthfully, these are our rights, we don’t need a declaration to emphasize that we are entitled to them.

While delivering a judgment Justice Kabiito declared that the deceased Irene Nanteza’s rights to access emergency Obstetric care, life, health, freedom from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and equality and those of her children were violated.

The case that was initiated after CEHURD was notified of the death of Irene Nanteza at Nakaseke district Hospital on the 5^th day of May 2011 after going to deliver her baby. While at Nakaseke Hospital however, she was left to suffer an entire day without the help of a medical officer that would offer her a C-section since the nurses on duty had found her suffering an obstructed labour. She later bled to death.

CEHURD decided to challenge the deliberate denial of the deceased Irene Nanteza’s access to emergence obstetric care for approximately 10 (ten) hours prior to her death and denial of access to the hospital ambulance to transfer the deceased to another health facility.

“Every woman in Uganda has a right to access emergence obstetric care. In Article 33(3) of the Constitution, the government of Uganda has committed to protect women and their rights, taking into account their unique status and natural maternal functions in society.” Mulumba, Moses, Executive Director of CEHURD notes.

My question to all leaders in the different institutions and everyone else, should we wait for the courts to remind us that we are humans with the same rights?

Patricia Kahill

Patricia Kahill is a multipotentialite Christian entrepreneur, Content Marketing Coach and founder of the Content Marketing agency, Kahill Insights that helps business owners create engaging and interactive content items for digital platforms with a focus on returning a desired outcome. Patricia was the producer of SlamDunk Basketball Talk a show on House of Talent online TV, a former fellow at Harvest Institute for leadership and now an assessor there, and an alumnus of the YELP class of 2017. A member of the BNI Integrity chapter and African Women Entrepreneur Cooperative. She is driven by passion and curiosity, been taking every opportunity that has been given to her with an ambition of stamping her footprint on the world.