Uganda’s Minister of State for Health in charge of General Duties, Anifa Bangirana Kawooya, dismissed Dr. Robert Candia, a doctor working at Arua Regional Referral Hospital, after he was seen standing with his hands in his trouser pockets while speaking to her during a meeting between the minister, other officials and hospital staff at several health facilities in Uganda.
The incident occurred on October 15, 2026, when Minister Kawooya visited the hospital to assess its operations. Videos circulating on social media show the minister ordering the doctor’s suspension or transfer to Yumbe District.
The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) condemned the doctor’s suspension and called for his reinstatement. It argued that having one’s hands in one’s pockets while speaking to a senior official should not be grounds for immediate disciplinary action without following the procedures stipulated in employment laws and regulations.
The association also expressed concern about the manner in which the decision against the doctor was made publicly, stressing that such matters should be handled through the appropriate administrative and disciplinary procedures.
On social media, many people said Minister Bangirana had displayed excessive arrogance, arguing that suspending the doctor was unnecessary, especially given the existing shortage of medical personnel. They suggested that he could instead have faced other disciplinary measures or simply been reminded of the appropriate way to conduct himself in the presence of senior officials.