KAMPALA, Uganda | Mulago National Referral Hospital has dismissed claims by Constitutional Court Judge Irene Mulyagonja that the facility lacks basic medicines.

Mulyagonja alleged in the video that Mulago failed to provide her late husband, John Baptist Kakooza, with essential supplies such as insulin and nasogastric tubes, which are used to feed patients who cannot feed themselves, resulting in his death.

 Executive Director of Mulago National Referral Hospital Dr Rosemary Byanyima said that the patient’s attendant rejected the nasogastric (NG) tube for feeding and drugs against medical guidance until the 15th of April, when the attendant agreed to cooperate upon realising that the patient was progressively weakening.

”On the 16th of April 2025, the NGT was inserted, feeding began, and the patient gained strength but pulled it out on the same day, prompting reinsertment and resumption of feeds and oral medication; therefore, the allegation that the hospital does not have NG tubes is not correct, but the process of insertion was disrupted by the condition of the patient and rejection by the family.” Byanyima said

She further revealed that insulin for emergencies is kept in a central place at the medical emergency unit, and when it was prescribed on 6B for this patient,

The nurse on duty, accompanied by the attendant then, who was the son of the deceased, went together to the medical emergency unit and secured the insulin, and it was administered to the patient.

Kakooza, a lawyer and Democratic Party (DP) member, passed away on May 17, 2025, due to illnesses.

Justice Mulyagonja said in the video that the family had initially sought care at several health facilities, including the private Nsambya hospital, but later transferred to Mulago due to mounting medical bills.