A private clinic in Elegu Town, Amuru District, has been closed by local health authorities after a 22-year-old woman died following childbirth complications.
Salama Mungia, a resident of Lorikwo East Cell in Elegu Town Council, passed away on Sunday around 6:40 p.m. after delivering a baby boy at Just Care Medical Center. According to authorities, the facility failed to promptly refer her to a better-equipped hospital when complications arose after delivery.
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Mungia had been admitted on May 17 with labor pains and gave birth to a healthy baby a few hours later. However, her health quickly deteriorated.
A preliminary report from the Amuru District Health Department revealed that delays in referring her for advanced care likely contributed to her death. Lorikwo East Cell Chairperson Kasim Kule alleged that the facility detained Mungia due to unpaid medical bills, only releasing her when her condition worsened.
“She died en route to Atiak Health Centre IV and was pronounced dead on arrival,” Kule said.
Her death brings the number of maternal fatalities in Amuru District to three in the last six months—most due to avoidable conditions such as bleeding, infections, and high blood pressure.
Amuru District Health Officer Dr. Alfred Okello called the incident “tragic and preventable,” noting that Mungia remained at the facility for over 18 hours before being referred to Atiak, 40 kilometers away. He further disclosed that Just Care Medical Center lacked the necessary license to conduct deliveries.
The facility’s owner, Patrick Mukibi, has been arrested and is being held at Amuru Central Police Station pending further investigation.
Mungia’s body was transferred to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem.
Uganda continues to face high maternal mortality rates. In 2017, the government received a $130 million World Bank loan under the Every Woman, Every Child initiative, aiming to cut maternal deaths from 438 to 130 per 100,000 live births over five years.
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