A growing concern over the state of kidney care in Uganda has emerged after journalist Kungu Al-Mahadi Adam publicly shared a heartfelt message from a Ugandan health worker appealing for urgent intervention from Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
In the message, which Adam said he received through WhatsApp, the unnamed medical professional currently rotating in the nephrology ward at Mulago National Referral Hospital describes a worsening situation for patients suffering from chronic kidney disease.
The health worker paints a grim picture of overcrowded wards, limited access to life-saving treatment, and financial barriers that continue to cost lives.
“Found the message below in my inbox on WhatsApp. Kindly receive it,” Adam wrote while forwarding the appeal to Gen. Kainerugaba.
According to the message, the nephrology ward is filled with patients in critical condition, yet only a small fraction are able to access kidney transplants.
Even hemodialysis, a standard treatment for kidney failure, is reportedly out of reach for many due to high costs and limited availability.
“In many cases, all we can do is offer counseling, prepare them for the worst, and manage symptoms as their condition deteriorates,” the health worker noted, adding that it is “heartbreaking to watch people die not because treatment doesn’t exist, but because it is out of reach.”
The medical professional further urged Gen. Kainerugaba, citing his access to top decision-makers, to consider establishing a dedicated support initiative, suggesting an “MK Kidney Foundation” to strengthen dialysis services and expand access to treatment.
The appeal highlights what health workers describe as a silent crisis affecting hundreds of Ugandans who cannot afford long-term renal care.
Kidney disease treatment, particularly dialysis, remains one of the most expensive and scarce services in the country’s public health system.
The message stresses that many patients are effectively left with palliative care rather than curative treatment, as families struggle to meet medical costs.
The proposal for a foundation, the writer argues, could provide a structured intervention to support hospitals, subsidize dialysis, and improve survival chances for patients battling kidney failure.