The Ministry of Health has clarified that Dr Robert Candia, a medical practitioner at Arua Regional Referral Hospital, has not been suspended and continues to perform his duties, following reports of disciplinary action against him by the Minister of State for Health in charge of General Duties, Anifa Kawooya.
In a public statement issued on Friday, October 16, 2026, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwine, said any disciplinary action against public servants must follow established government procedures.
“The Ministry of Health clarifies that Dr Robert Candia of Arua Regional Referral Hospital has not been suspended and continues to perform his duties,” Atwine said.
She explained that the government has established procedures for handling disciplinary matters and that any action against a public officer must comply with the applicable public service regulations.
Atwine also urged health professionals to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and remain focused on delivering quality and uninterrupted healthcare to Ugandans.
“The Ministry remains committed to constructive engagement with health workers while upholding accountability and ensuring quality patient care,” she said.
The clarification follows a public dispute involving Candia and Kawooya, after the minister reportedly ordered his suspension over an alleged breach of etiquette described as “pocketing” his hands during an exchange with her.
The controversy has drawn a response from the Uganda Medical Association (UMA), which criticised the circumstances surrounding the reported suspension and called for respect for due process in the management of health workers.
In a press statement dated October 16, the association said it had noted with “grave dismay” the viral incident and the subsequent reported summary suspension of Candia.
UMA argued that the alleged conduct did not constitute a recognised capital disciplinary offence under the laws governing healthcare delivery and questioned the manner in which the incident was handled.
The association said healthcare facilities should remain focused on clinical work and patient care rather than becoming venues for political confrontation.
“Healthcare facilities are centres of clinical science, intense human distress, and life-saving interventions,” the statement reads, adding that they should not be used for political posturing or public relations activities.
The association further argued that administrative action against public servants must comply with the law and established disciplinary procedures.
It cited Article 42 of the Constitution, which guarantees fair and just treatment by administrative officials, alongside the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders of 2021 and the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, which provides for the regulation of medical professional conduct.
UMA maintained that professional disciplinary matters fall within established regulatory frameworks and should not be handled through what it described as “impromptu political roadside tribunals.”
The Ministry’s clarification that Candia has not been suspended now places the focus on the procedures governing disciplinary action against public health workers and the need to maintain professional standards while ensuring accountability.
The incident has also renewed attention to relations between political leaders and health professionals, particularly the importance of due process and uninterrupted service delivery in public health facilities.