Tensions escalated at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital in Jinja City as residents staged protests against a decision made by State Minister for Lands, Sam Mayanja, to allocate part of the hospital's land to a group of Muslims.

Hospital leaders have urgently appealed to the government to intervene and halt Minister Mayanja's directive to transfer a portion of the hospital's land. The controversy arose after the minister reportedly issued the order during a visit to Jinja last week, aiming to resolve a longstanding land dispute between the hospital and the Muslim group.

The protest, which saw residents locking the hospital gate for over an hour, reflects the community's strong opposition to the land allocation. According to David Mukisa, the chairperson of the hospital's board of governors, a previous court ruling favored the hospital's ownership of the disputed land.

Despite the minister's efforts to address the conflict, local residents are demanding a reversal of the decision, emphasizing the importance of preserving the land for hospital development and improved service delivery.

Currently, various activities are ongoing on the disputed land, further complicating the situation as hospital administrators plan to utilize the area for expanding facilities and enhancing healthcare services. The standoff underscores the complexity of land management issues and the need for transparent and inclusive decision-making processes in such matters.