THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
GUIDELINES FOR HEALTH
CENTRE III HEALTH UNIT
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES
2019
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ..................................................................... 1
1.1 Health Centre III ............................................................. 1
1.2 Purpose of the Committee .............................................. 1
1.3 Objectives of the Committee .......................................... 1
2. Composition of the Committee ....................................... 3
3. Nomination and Formation of the Health Unit
Management Committee ................................................ 4
4. Roles of the Committee .................................................. 6
5. Sub committees .............................................................. 7
6. Proceedings of Committee Meetings .............................. 8
10
8. Emoluments for Committee Members ............................ 11
9. Powers and limitations .................................................... 12
10. Review of the guidelines ................................................. 13
11. Dissolution of the Committee .......................................... 14
12. Monitoring and evaluation of Committee activities ......... 15
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Foreword
Health Unit Management Committees are the key governance
structures. The Committees promote participation and ownership
of health services by the community, advocate for improved quality
of service delivery, promote transparency in management of
I am therefore delighted to present to you the guidelines for Health
Centre III Health Unit Management Committees, which I believe,
is a step to realize our vision for creating, accountable and well-
governed health units capable of taking decisions and competent
enough to operate in a rapidly changing sector. It is indeed a
starting point for stimulating ambition in expanding the notion of
good governance in the entire healthcare sector aimed at reaching
The guidelines lay a credible and hard-edged foundation for
sustainable community participation in matters pertaining to
their health. The guidelines outline the composition, roles,
responsibilities, management of the proceedings of the Committee
and provide clear guidance to members in executing their roles.
I would like to extend my appreciation to the senior management
team of Ministries of Health, Public Service, Local Government and
for their contribution towards the development of these guidelines.
I call upon all key stakeholders to use these guidelines in the
governance, management and delivery of health services in Health
Centre IIIs.
Dr. Aceng Jane Ruth
MINISTER OF HEALTH
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1.0 Introduction
Health Unit Management Committees are key governance
structures. The Committees promote participation and
ownership of health services by the community, advocate for
improved quality of service delivery, promote transparency
The establishment of the Committees is in pursuit of one of
the policy objectives of the Second National Health Policy
which is to ensure that communities are empowered to play
their role, take responsibility for their own health and ensure
that they actively participate in the design, planning and
management of health services.
These guidelines outline the composition, roles,
responsibilities, and management of the proceedings of the
Health Unit Management Committees for Health Centre IIIs
in Uganda.
1.1 Health Centre III
Health Centre IIIs provide basic preventive, promotive and
curative care and support supervision of the community
and Health Centre IIs under their jurisdiction. There are
provisions for laboratory services for diagnosis, maternity
1.2 Purpose of the Committee
To strengthen the management and governance of the
health unit for improved service delivery and utilization of
health services in the community.
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1.3 Objectives of the Committee
The objectives of the Health Unit Management
Committees are to:
1.3.1 Strengthen the management of the health centre through
community participation in decision making.
1.3.2 Promote transparency in management of human, material
1.3.3 Advocate for improved quality of service delivery in the
health centre.
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2.0 Composition of the Committee
2.1 The Health Unit Management Committee for Health
Centre III shall have nine members, three of whom shall
any political position. The Committee shall consist of the
following persons:
i)
ii) Staff representative (Member).
iii) Assistant Secretary in-charge of the Sub county (Member)
iv) A head teacher of a school within the Sub county where
the health facility is located (Member)
v) Four community representatives of high integrity, including
representatives of women, youth and other special interest
groups from the parishes within the
Sub county.
vi) Assistant Medical Superintendent (in- charge)
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3.0 Nomination and Formation of the Health Unit
Management Committee
3.1 Committee Members, including the chairperson shall be
appointed by the chairperson LC III.
3.2 The process of sourcing for new members of the
Committee shall start six months before the expiry of the
3.3 The Assistant Medical Superintendent (in-charge) shall
initiate the formation of the Committee by writing to the
Senior Assistant Secretary (Sub County Chief), giving the
date of the expiry of the current Committee.
3.4 The expiry date of the Committee shall be drawn to the
attention of the Chairperson LC III by the Senior Assistant
Secretary.
3.5 Staff representative shall be chosen by the Health Centre
III employees and the name forwarded to the Sub county
or Division Executive Committee.
3.6 Community members shall be nominated by the
respective parishes within the Sub county.
3.7 The Sub county/Division Executive Committee shall
nominate Members including the Chairperson for the
designated positions on the Health Centre III Health
Management Committee.
3.8 The Chairperson LC III shall forward the names of the
nominees together with their curriculum vitae to the Sub
county/Division Council for approval.
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3.9 The Members including the Chairperson of the Committee
shall be selected and approved by the Sub county/Division
Council from amongst the nominees.
3.10
3.11 The Committee shall co-opt health facility members
of staff as and when required but not more than two
members.
3.12 Appointed members of the Committee shall take an oath
3.13 Appointed members of the Committee shall be inducted
before they commence duty.
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4.0 Roles of the Committee
4.1 Provide strategic direction for the health centre within the
framework of the Health Policy.
4.2 Review and approve the annual work plans, budgets
and any necessary reallocations within the budget as
presented by management.
4.3 Discuss and approve the health facility annual report
before it is submitted to the Senior Assistant Secretary
(Sub County Chief) or Town Clerk.
4.4 Oversee the procurement, storage and utilization of all
health facility goods and services as well as essential
medicines and health supplies.
4.5 Provide oversight in the management of human resources
for health including: attraction, development, motivation,
attendance to duty, performance, retention, and exit.
4.6 Oversee proper sanitation and good health facility
environment for effective health services delivery.
4.7 Monitor the proper security of all the health facility assets
including land.
4.8 Promote and improve communication between the health
facility and the public and foster community participation in
health facility activities.
4.9 Mobilize resources for the health facility.
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5.0 Sub committees
5.1 The Committee shall form the following sub committees to
i) Human Resources (to include welfare, rewards and
sanctions);
ii) Finance and Development; and
iii) Quality Assurance.
5.2 The Committee shall have authority to appoint ad hoc
committees as necessary.
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6.0 Proceedings of Committee Meetings
6.1 The Chairperson shall preside over all meetings and in
his/her absence the members shall elect a Chairperson
from among themselves to preside over the meeting.
6.2 The medium of communication shall be the English
language.
6.3 The Secretary shall call all committee and subcommittee
meetings in consultation with the Chairperson.
6.4
form the desired quorum for any meeting.
6.5 The committee shall meet quarterly to conduct committee
business.
6.6 There shall be provisions for extra ordinary meetings but
6.7 The meetings of the committee shall as much as possible
be held at the health facility premises.
6.8 The Chairperson, in consultation with the Secretary,
may at any time convene a special meeting of the
committee to consider a special subject on his/her own
initiative or if requested in writing by not less than three
members of the Committee.
6.9 Contentious issues discussed shall be decided upon by a
simple majority of the members present through voting by
show of hands. The Chairperson shall have a deliberative
and casting vote.
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6.10 A minimum of fourteen days’ notice (including the agenda,
minutes of the previous meeting and all the requisite
documents) shall be required to call members for a regular
meeting.
6.11
and requisite documents) shall be required to call
members for special meetings.
6.12 In the event of an emergency however, the Chairperson
shall have powers to waive this time limit as he/she sees it
necessary.
6.13 The minutes of the proceedings shall be recorded by the
Secretary and shall be reviewed in the next meeting.
6.14 All minutes will be carefully stored by the Secretary for
future reference.
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7.0 Tenure of
7.1 Members appointed to the Committee including the
will be eligible for renewal for one more term.
7.2 If a position falls vacant on the Committee, the appointing
member to that vacancy within two months. The due
selection process will be followed. The new member
Committee.
7.3 The Chairperson or any Member may by notice in writing
under his/her hand addressed to the appointing authority
with a copy to the Chairperson of the Committee, resign
his/her membership respectively. In either case a notice of
one month is required.
7.4 The appointing authority may at any time remove
a Member of the Committee if he/she is convinced that the
member;
i) is incapacitated by physical or mental illness;
ii) has been absent for 3 consecutive meetings without good
reasons in writing;
iii) has been convicted of a criminal offence in a Court of Law,
iv) Is involved directly or indirectly with the health facility in a
business transaction as a trader, supplier or contractor.
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8.0 Emoluments for Committee Members
The emoluments for the committee members shall be as
per the guidelines below:
8.1 Members will be paid a sitting allowance and transport
refund as per Ministry of Public Service Circular Standing
Instructions.
8.2 Subcommittee members shall be paid honoraria.
8.3
individual appointment letters.
8.4 The allowances shall be paid from the health facility funds.
8.5 Any humanitarian assistance to a committee member
may be provided as appropriate; depending on
availability of resources.
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9.0 Powers and limitations
The powers of the Committee are limited to the roles
provided under these guidelines.
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10.0 Review of the guidelines
or as and when need arises.
13
11.0 Dissolution of the Committee
The appointing authority may dissolve the Committee
under the following circumstances:
a) Where committee members have acted in a manner that is
illegal, oppressive or fraudulent;
b) The health facility assets are being misapplied or wasted;
c)
d) The Committee is incompetent to effectively execute its
roles as provided for under section 4 of these guidelines.
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12.0 Monitoring and evaluation of Committee
activities
12.1 The Committee shall make annual work plans with clear
performance indicators and targets and submit to the
appointing authority.
12.2 The Committee shall be monitored by the appointing
authority and assessed annually based on their work plans.
12.3 The Committee shall submit annual reports to the
appointing authority. The report shall comprise of
committee activities, health facility performance,
strategic directions and challenges.
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Ministry of Health
P. O. Box 7272 Kampala Uganda
Plot 6 Lourdel Rd, Nakasero
General Telephone: +256-414-340874 / 231563/9
Permanent Secretary’s +256-414-340872
Fax: +256-414-231584
Email: [email protected]
