Gulu hospital dragged to Medical Council over baby’s death

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The Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council has been petitioned over the death of a one-year-and-nine-month-old baby.

The petitioners, the Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) and Miriam Nampeera, allege medical mismanagement and neglect led to the death of Treasure Ezekiel Amanya, the son of Nampeera, on May 3, 2024. The petition was filed against Gulu Regional Referral Hospital on June 25, 2025.

According to the complaint, when Amanya fell ill on May 1, 2024, his mother, Nampeera, sought medical examination in one of the health facilities, which revealed that the child had tonsillitis.

Subsequently, medication was prescribed, which Nampeera purchased and administered as directed.

The following day, with no improvement, the child was admitted in the acute ward of Gulu Hospital for treatment. However, Nampeera claims no comprehensive clinical assessment or physical examination was conducted by a doctor upon admission.

“Throughout the admission period, Nampeera was repeatedly asked to purchase various medications prescribed by different health workers, which she did, although no diagnostic tests were carried out to establish the actual cause of the child’s illness,” the petition reads in part.

Nampeera said her child’s condition deteriorated, and by 11:00 pm, he began vomiting blood and exhibited signs of respiratory distress.

“These acute clinical symptoms were either ignored or inadequately addressed by the healthcare providers at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital,” she contends.

According to CEHURD acting programme manager, strategic litigation Esther Dhafa Kyaliki, the failure to provide urgent and appropriate medical care in response to the life-threatening symptoms directly contributed to the child’s death, which would have been prevented.

“It is unfortunate that despite constitutional provisions mandating all organs and agencies of government to uphold and promote the rights and freedoms of individuals, Nampeera has to bear the pain of losing a child throughout her lifetime,” lawyer Jane Kibira Namaganda said.

Remedies

The complainants seek a declaration that the hospital’s medical practitioners exhibited professional misconduct in the management of the late Amanya and that they violated human rights of the baby.

They demand a thorough investigation of the medical practitioners who were involved in the medical care of the late Amanya while at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital and issue improvement guidelines.

The complainants also seek for an audit in the management of the children receiving treatment at the hospital.

The complainants also want Gulu hospital management to avail all medical records regarding the treatment and management of the late Amanya to them and any other penalty that may be deemed necessary.