The Minister of State for Health in charge of General Duties, Anifa Kawooya, has suspended a senior doctor at Arua Regional Referral Hospital after he allegedly put his hands in his pockets while speaking to her during her visit to the facility.
The incident occurred on 15 October when Kawooya was conducting a routine monitoring visit at the hospital.
The doctor, Dr Robert Candia, is a senior dental surgeon at Arua Regional Referral Hospital.
The suspension has attracted criticism from members of the public, with some questioning whether the doctor’s conduct warranted disciplinary action.
The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has also criticised the suspension and called for it to be immediately reversed.
In a statement dated 16 October 2026, UMA president Dr Frank R. Asiimwe said the doctor’s conduct amounted to a breach of etiquette but did not justify summary disciplinary action.
“While deference to authority is a cherished cultural value, neither the Laws of Uganda nor the clinical algorithms of healthcare delivery recognise hand placement as a capital disciplinary offence,” UMA said.
The association said disciplinary action against health workers should follow established administrative procedures rather than being based on perceived breaches of protocol during public engagements.
UMA further criticised what it described as “unvarnished theatrical condescension and excitement masquerading as ministerial oversight”.
“Healthcare facilities are centres of clinical science, intense human distress, and life-saving interventions. They are not stages for political posturing, nor are they arenas for roadside court-martials aimed at scoring cheap public relations points,” Asiimwe said.
The association has therefore urged the Ministry of Health to reverse the suspension and handle the matter through the appropriate administrative channels.
