By Walter okello I 8th June 2026
The Kumam Cultural Heritage has urged students pursuing health-related courses to serve with dedication and professionalism in order to strengthen Uganda’s healthcare system.
The call was made by Peter Ekilu the deputy prime minister kumam cultural heritage during a student cultural leadership handover ceremony at Dr. Alele Foundation (DAF) School of Nursing and Midwifery in Akalo Sub-county, Kole District. He noted that the healthcare sector continues to face challenges due to a shortage of committed health workers, leaving many communities without adequate medical services.
Ekilu expressed concern that many health workers in government health facilities are overwhelmed by the growing number of patients seeking treatment. He said some health professionals have shifted their focus from serving people to pursuing financial gain, which undermines the quality of healthcare delivery.
He reminded the students that healthcare is a calling centered on saving lives rather than making money. He encouraged them to work hard and uphold high professional standards so they can become trusted and competent health workers who serve communities with integrity and compassion.
According to Ekilu, the Kumam Cultural Heritage partnered with Dr. Alele Foundation School of Nursing and Midwifery to increase access to medical education and produce more qualified health professionals who will help address healthcare challenges in the future.
He also encouraged students across the Lango sub-region to embrace and preserve their cultural heritage, noting that every community derives its identity, values, and sense of belonging from its culture.
The Director of Dr. Alele Foundation School of Nursing and Midwifery, Alice Akite, said the institution is committed to equipping students with the knowledge and skills required to become competent healthcare professionals capable of making a positive impact in society.
Akite revealed that when the school was established in 2013, nearly 80 percent of the students came from Mbale and other regions, while very few students from Lango enrolled. She noted that the trend has since changed significantly, with increasing numbers of students from Lango now joining the institution to pursue health-related courses as a results of partnering with Lango cultural institution.
She explained that many families in Lango have traditionally viewed medical education as expensive and beyond their reach. However, she said, the school has worked hard to make healthcare training more accessible to local students, enabling them to acquire medical skills and compete with their counterparts from other regions.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Otim, the Speaker of Otikokin clan, called on the people of Lango to abandon negative practices such as secrecy, which he said continue to hinder development in the region because senior leaders do not want to mentor junior staff to replace them.
Otim noted that many leaders fail to share adequate information with the people they lead, creating barriers to progress. He urged communities to embrace openness, cooperation, and information sharing as essential ingredients for social and economic development.
