PS Atwine clashes with Health minister boss Kawooya over ‘pocketing’ doctor

The permanent secretary of the ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine, has criticised her boss, state minister for Health Anifa Bangirana Kawooya, for allegedly overstepping her mandate by declaring the suspension of Dr Robert Candia of Arua Regional Referral Hospital.

In a viral social media video, Kawooya is seen confronting Candia for allegedly disrespecting her by addressing her while keeping his hands in his pockets during an official engagement at the hospital.

The minister, accompanied by other officials, questions the doctor over his conduct before declaring, “For you, it’s suspension. I have said suspension …” Candia is subsequently seen being guided away as the minister continues to accuse him of indiscipline.

The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media, with several people, including medical practitioners, questioning the minister’s authority to suspend a health worker under such circumstances and calling for established disciplinary procedures to be respected.

Dr Diana Atwine

In a statement issued on Friday, Atwine said the government has established procedures for handling disciplinary matters within the public service, emphasising that any action against a public officer must comply with the applicable administrative requirements.

She said Candia had not been formally removed from his duties at the hospital, despite the minister’s declaration in the video.

“I encourage all health professionals to uphold the highest professional standards and remain focused on providing quality, uninterrupted healthcare to the millions of Ugandans who seek services at our health facilities,” said Atwine

The Uganda Medical Association (UMA), the professional body representing medical practitioners, had earlier condemned the incident and called for the immediate rescission of the purported suspension.

In a statement, UMA president Frank Asiimwe criticised the manner in which the incident was handled, arguing that health facilities should remain professional environments focused on patient care rather than public confrontations.

“Health facilities are centres of clinical science, intense human distress and lifesaving interventions. They are not stages for political posturing nor are they areas for roadside court-martials aimed at scoring cheap public relations points,” Asiimwe said.

He also called for an end to what he described as political theatrics in health facilities across the country.

The incident has renewed debate over the increasingly confrontational approach some government officials have adopted during inspection tours, in which public officers are questioned or reprimanded in front of cameras.

Local Government minister Balaam Barugahara has been among the prominent proponents of this approach, using filmed visits to government institutions to confront officials over alleged inefficiencies and failures in service delivery.

Supporters of such inspections view them as a means of exposing poor performance and demanding accountability from public servants. However, critics argue that publicly reprimanding officials before establishing the facts risks undermining institutional procedures and the rights of the individuals involved.

Legal experts have also raised concerns about the implications of such interventions, warning that disciplinary action taken outside established procedures could expose the government to litigation.

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