The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has demanded the immediate reinstatement of Dr Robert Candia, a senior dental surgeon at Arua Regional Referral Hospital, following his suspension by State Minister for Health in charge of General Duties, Anifa Bangirana Kawooya. The association argues that the doctor should not be punished over placing his hands in his pockets while speaking to the minister.
Candia was suspended on October 14, 2026, during Kawooya’s inspection of the hospital. A video circulating on social media shows the minister ordering his suspension or transfer to Yumbe District over what she considered disrespectful conduct. The incident has since sparked public debate about professional etiquette, ministerial authority and the treatment of healthcare workers.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 16, UMA president Dr Frank Rubabinda Asiimwe condemned the decision, describing the alleged offence as a minor breach of etiquette. The association argued that neither Uganda’s laws nor standard clinical procedures treat the position of a doctor’s hands as a serious disciplinary offence in itself.
UMA accused the minister of turning a routine hospital inspection into a public confrontation and humiliating a medical professional. It said hospital visits should focus on improving healthcare services rather than demonstrations of authority, adding that public criticism and punishment without proper procedures could undermine the dignity of medical workers.
The association cited Article 42 of the Constitution, which provides for just and fair treatment by administrative officials, and the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders of 2021, which outline procedures for disciplining public servants. UMA also argued that matters involving the professional conduct of doctors fall within the mandate of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council and should be handled through the appropriate processes.
UMA has demanded the withdrawal of Candia’s suspension and called for disciplinary procedures to be followed. It warned that publicly humiliating medical workers could further weaken morale in a health sector already facing staff shortages, inadequate equipment, medicine stockouts and heavy workloads. The association said doctors should be allowed to perform their duties without being subjected to what it considers arbitrary punishment.
The controversy has also attracted lawyer Joshua Byamazima, who offered to represent Candia without charging legal fees if he is denied entry back to the hospital. Other medical professionals have questioned whether placing one’s hands in pockets while speaking to a government official should be treated as misconduct. Meanwhile, Kawooya’s inspection reportedly resulted in other administrative actions involving hospital staff, including investigations into suspected impersonation and changes to leave arrangements.
The dispute comes as Arua Regional Referral Hospital struggles with a significant staffing shortage. Acting hospital director Dr Gilbert Aniku told Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on September 14 that the facility was operating at only 23 per cent of its approved staffing level while serving approximately 2.5 million people across West Nile and neighbouring areas. The hospital handles about 130,000 outpatients and 22,000 inpatients annually and has received clearance to recruit 127 additional workers. The controversy has renewed calls for accountability and fair disciplinary procedures as health authorities seek to improve services at the overstretched facility.
