By Moses Lokeris
Government health facilities in Kotido District have run out of essential medicines and supplies, leaving the lives of thousands of patients in limbo.
The essential medicines include painkillers, antimalarials, antibiotics, and intravenous fluids while the health supplies include syringes, cannulas, testing kits, reagents, gloves, stitches and cotton wool.
The stock out, which health workers blame on the alleged irregular deliveries of drugs to the district by National Medical Stores (NMS), is forcing patients seeking treatment at the facilities to dig into their pockets to buy drugs and health supplies from private drugs shops and clinics.
Karamela Igira, an expectant mother from Lopuyo Sub-county said that drug stock out at Lopuyo health centre II, has forced her to seek for antenatal services from Kanawat health Centre III in Kotido West Division, which is about 15 kilometres far.
She stated that apart from enduring walking long distance, they are being charged Shs20,000 for antenatal service at Kanawat health Centre III since it’s a private facility.
Anna Lotyang, another resident of Logoman Parish in Longaroe Sub-county lamented that most times children who suffer from Malaria are forced to take tablets due to a lack of Intravenous (IV) artesunate at the facilities.
Maxwell Okello, the In Charge of Lopuyo health centre II attributed rampant drug stock-out at the facility to an overwhelming number of patients visa vie the quantity of drugs they receive from National Medical Stores.
He stated that the facility currently serves a population of over 13,412 people, and that the drugs typically last less than three weeks from the date of delivery.
When our reporter visited Rengen health centre III in Rengen Sub-county Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at around 12:30 p.m, he found only two health workers who preferred anonymity present at the facility without any patient.
They told him off record that there are no patients coming for medical services at the facility due to lack of drugs.
Pope Paul Lopor and Moses Lokwii, the Village Health Team (VHTs) from Rengen Sub-county said that patients who test positive for malaria are always referred to buy medicines from pharmacies in town.
This according to them has forced many people to stop seeking treatment from public health facilities because of frustration caused by drug stock outs.
When reached on Whatsapp, Sheila Nduhukire, the Public Relations Officer said that they delivered a consignment of drugs to various health facilities in Kotido district two months ago.
She promised to cross check for facts and revert to our report by close , which she had not done by the time of filing this report.
