Many Makerere University students are disappointed with the recently-released prices for services at the new Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital. The students journalism@mak talked to say the cost is too high and eliminates the ordinary Ugandan.

"How will a person who sells 1kg of maize between UGX 200 and UGX 300 afford the services of millions at this hospital?" said Tumukunde Brian, a year two Journalism student.

This view is supported by Nimuhimbisa Caleb, a Bachelor of Medicine student. Nimuhimbisa says, "The costs are too high. This makes the hospital a health center for maybe ministers and Members of Parliament.”

Another student, Mayeku Esther from the School of Performing Arts says the charges are even higher than in private hospitals, and yet Mulago is a public facility.

The ministry recently released the prices for services at the hospital. In a statement by Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng, patients will pay UGX 50,000 for consultations, admitted patients will pay UGX 80,000 per day, antenatal care for in-patients that requires eight visits to charged UGX 890,000 and out patients UGX 490,000. A normal delivery costs UGX 800,000 and two million shillings for caesarean section. Patients seeking for In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) will pay 13 million shillings, among other services provided.

These charges have made many students think the hospital is not for the government but rather a private one.

Bora Fadhir from the School of Law suggests that the costs of this hospital need to be revised.

"How can a government hospital charge all those amounts? Won't the private hospitals increase their charges too after seeing the costs of a government one?" said Mugabe Usira, a Civil Engineering student.

The hospital was constructed through a loan from Islamic Development Bank. 33 million dollars was used for construction and 8 million dollars for equipment. It will be officially commissioned on 4th or 5th October 2018 by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.