Basajjabalaba’s KIU Ishaka on spot for detaining patient, carer

Kampala International Hospital (KIU) Teaching hospital has been accused of detaining a mentally-sick patient and a caregiver over unpaid bills worth shs600,000.

According to the relatives of Barbara Nayebare, 25, who is mentally disturbed, she has been detained at hospital with minimal improvement.

“At first we agreed that we pay shs500,000 and leave the patient at KIU. We paid shs300,000 and remained with balance of shs200,000,” a brother of Nayebare said.

“However after around a month when Nayebare’s father, Charles Atukwase, took the balance to the hospital, they told him the Bill had grown by an extra shs600,000,” the relative said.

However, this turned bad on Saturday when Atukwase could not be allowed to leave the hospital to look for the money.

“He has not food, beddings and he’s also disabled in the leg. So how do they expect him to pay when he’s in hospital with the patient?” the relative wondered.

According to the relative, the patient has not improved and they have plans of relocating her to Butabika.

Efforts to reach the hospital through the number provided on their website were futile as the calls went unanswered.

The facility is owned by tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba currently vying for the position of chairperson of the National Resistance Movement chairperson of entrepreneurs league.