On Wednesday 29th November 2023, a post circulated on social media platforms of Whatsapp and X – formerly Twitter, showing the Toroma County Legislator Hon. Koluo Joseph Andrew smiling next to the new ambulance branded “Toroma County”with the number plate UG 7844M.
Below the post was a tag reading that, “Hon Koluo Joseph Andrew in his continued lobbying for Toroma County, has secured a fully equipped Ambulance for his people, Mp Sharp – Sharp.”
A post that spurred reactions from Social media.
The post instigated mixed reactions from the social media users in Teso Sub – region, especially those hailing from Toroma County and other parts of the region.
They accused the MP Koluo for claiming merit over a government service especially the ambulance secured by the Ministry of health for the taxpayers of Toroma, using it for gaining his political interests which according to them is a wrong practice.
The electorates say that Members of Parliament should stop taking an advantage of government services to lie the unsuspecting voters by crediting themselves.
One of the posts reacting to the MP Koluo’s circulating picture.
On 14th July 2023, the Ministry of Health received 25 type B ambulances from the Government of Japan to improve emergency response to patients with life threatening medical conditions at the community level.
During the handover ceremony that took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Health, the Minister for Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero had applauded the Government of Japan for supplying Uganda with ambulance vehicles that meet both national and international standards.
According to Acieng, the ambulances were to be distributed to 25 constituencies in the country of which Toroma County emerged among the constituencies approved to benefit.
Photo: Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng (Center) receiving Ambulances from the Japanese Government.
Dr. Aceng explained that the ambulances are stationed on major highways and are commanded by the Emergency Medical Services command centers that are present in the Regional Referral Hospitals.
She further revealed that the country has 135 ambulances that meet the standards and are distributed within the country with 80 of them in the constituencies and 55 at Referral Hospitals.
The Ambassador of Japan to Uganda Mr. Hidemoto Fukuzawa said the ambulances were part of Japan’s aid for social and economic programs.
Mr. Hidemoto Fukuzawa explained that the project is aimed at addressing Healthcare needs through the provision of medical care equipment and helping to strengthen public health and the medical system.
According to the Emergency Medical Services policy, the ambulances are given per constituency not per facility. This means the ambulances serve a population of 100,000 people.
We tried contacting the accused Mp Joseph Andrew Koluo on phone call for his response, however our efforts went futile as no one could receive our phone call on his official line.