By Jamillah Kemigisa
Three medical practitioners have been charged with manslaughter following the tragic death of Nansubuga, a young mother who died after undergoing a botched Caesarean section at an unlicensed clinic clandestinely operating inside Mulago National Referral Hospital.
The case has reignited national outrage over unsafe medical practices and the infiltration of rogue clinics within Uganda’s largest public hospital.
Appearing in court today were Joel Kiwanuka, the alleged proprietor of the illegal clinic, Hassan Budhugo, who is accused of persuading Nansubuga to seek treatment there, and Henry Francis Kadaaga. They were formally charged with manslaughter and remanded as the case was adjourned to October 8, 2025, to allow them to apply for bail.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ahmed Lutaaya, the surgeon who performed the fatal procedure, remains on the run. Police have issued a warrant for his arrest.
“This was a preventable tragedy,” said Dr. Warren Namara, Director of the State House Health Monitoring Unit. “Instead of referring her to proper care within Mulago Hospital, they chose to operate in unsafe conditions inside an unlicensed clinic that should never have existed at the national referral hospital.”
Investigations by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) were launched after a complaint filed by Nansubuga’s sister, Naomi Campbell Nambooze, a Ugandan nurse based in Dubai. Findings revealed glaring lapses: absence of essential surgical equipment, no certified anaesthesiologist on duty, and failure to obtain formal consent from the patient or her family.
Dr. Lutaaya is also accused of attempting to conceal the death by sending deceptive messages to the family, claiming Nansubuga was recovering. Forensic teams have since recovered incriminating digital evidence, including phone records and CCTV footage, expected to play a pivotal role during trial.
The tragedy has intensified calls for government to crack down on unlicensed medical facilities operating within public hospitals. Madina Nakibuuka, the grieving mother of the deceased, demanded justice: “Those responsible must be held accountable. My daughter sacrificed so much for this family.”
Nansubuga leaves behind a newborn son — a poignant reminder of the human toll of unsafe medical practices. The case is being watched closely as a litmus test of Uganda’s resolve to enforce health regulations and protect patients, even within its most prestigious hospital.
Mulago, as Uganda’s foremost referral facility, is mandated to deliver specialized care under stringent regulatory oversight. The revelation that illegal clinics have been operating within its precincts has sparked alarm over systemic weaknesses in supervision, raising urgent questions about accountability in the country’s health sector.
