Hon Baryomunsi responds to Hon Mwijukye

Mwijukye

By Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, MP

RESPONSE TO AN ARTICLE PURPOTEDLY WRITTEN BY HON FRANCIS MWIJUKYE REGARDING MY RECENT HEALTH INCIDENT

I write to respond to an article circulating on social media purportedly written by my friend Hon Francis Mwijukye, MP Buhweju County regarding my recent health hiccup I had while in Kanungu on January 7, 2023. Mwijukye gives a different account saying that am a liar, that I never fainted but rather I fell and rolled like a stone because i and my team were carrying iron sheets on head since the church was not accessible by road.

This allegation is not only laughable but stupid. Hon Mwijukye from Buhweju cannot claim to know my constituency better than myself, the area MP.

A supporter from the area rang me today and said if Parliament has such MPs, then Uganda needs prayers. And i agree with him. What is factual is that Ruhija Catholic Church in Muramba parish is accessible by road from 3 directions.

Being an MP is something honourable but Mwijukye is someone I consider intellectually disabled. I don’t know what he is known for as a parliamentarian. I have never heard him move a motion, private member’s Bill or raise intelligible issues to government. These are the kind of MPs who just eat Mandazi’s and pancakes in committees, insult government officials who appear before parliamentary committees and pose before cameras for media attention.

Back to my health issue; I was invited to officiate at a fundraising event at Ruhija Catholic Church in Muramba parish on 26.12. 2022 .The event was to raise funds for roofing the new church. I did not physically attend but I sent my political assistant with instructions to pledge all the 200 iron sheets needed to roof the church among other forms of support.

I delivered the versatile iron sheets and other accessories on Saturday 7.12. 2023 in the afternoon . The christians, led by the Parish priest received me with excitement and the event went on well. I left in good health. Shortly after leaving, I abruptly felt dizzy and blacked out while in my official vehicle .

My team rushed me to Kambuga Hospital, which is our general hospital in Kanungu District. The heath team led by Dr Adath worked on me and stabilised me. All the required drugs and medical supplies were there. Nothing was bought from outside.

I thank the medical team that handled me. They did not charge me anything as this is a government facility. Being the area MP, news spread very fast and many people were fast gathering around the hospital. I appreciate my constituents for the concern . Some have been holding prayers since then.

While in hospital, I was told by my Assistant, Isaac that my family and friends in Kampala had arranged for a private helicopter to pick me for further management. I was not sure whether they would get one with night vision capabilities.

They assured me it had been secured, otherwise I had suggested I could leave in the morning since I was feeling better. The helicopter picked me at about 10.00pm and was taken to Mulago Hospital for further assessment and management.

I have since been discharged from Mulago Hospital and am steadily recovering. In medical practice, referral of a patient is normal, it does not mean the referring institution is dysfunctional as portrayed in the media. It is important to note that Kambuga Hospital never failed to manage my condition.. They did their part and my handlers made a request to have me taken to Kampala where my immediate family lives.

I hope the Ugandan public did not expect the health workers at Kambuga to deny me the opportunity. They assessed the medical facilities in the helicopter and they were satisfied that I could be handled by the medical doctor and other health personnel on board.

Hon Mwijukye claims that I was first rushed to Rugyeyo Community Hospital built by Mr James Garuga and frustrated by myself, a powerful Minister. Another stupid falsehood. Rugyeyo health centre is a government facility in Kanungu. In early 2000s govt provided resources to expand Rugyeyo health centre III.

Later, the tea nursery operators, led by Mr Garuga, requested us as leaders to allow them renovate and use the old structures and turn them into a private wing. As the area MP, I led the team to the then Minister of Health, Rt Hon Ruhakana Rugunda and the request was okayed.

The Tea nursery operators contributed money, signed an MoU with Kanungu Local government and started running private health services there. We supported them. Later, Mr Garuga and team withdrew from the partnership claiming that Kanungu District local government did not fulfil part of what they were supposed to do. I was neither the District Chaiperson, CAO or incharge of the health facility.

We later engaged the Ministry of Health who have since upgraded the facility to a health centre 4. And it it is functioning as such. Claims by Hon Mwijukye and his hangers on that I blocked Garuga’s support to the health facility just show the emptiness by someone who leaves his own issues in Buhweju and wants to poke his ditry big nose into Kanungu local politics.

The only point where I agree with Hon Mwijukye is that all of us leaders should work together to ensure better services for Ugandans. However, it is not correct for some members of the political opposition to think that they are more concerned about the welfare of Ugandans than others.

We are in leadership to solve people’s problems but we cannot do that through populism, mediocrity and mendacity as shown by Mwijukye.. The NRM government has improved the quality of lives of Ugandans. And this is not only teachnically measurable but also visible to the naked eye.

Kambuga Hospital has been partially renovated in the past and we have now allocated substantial amounts of billion shillings for comprehensive refurbishment. The UPDF Engineering brigade will commence civil works in early February this year.

I wish all of you a.happy new year and good luck.

Chris Baryomunsi, MD, PhD is the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, MP Kinkizi East, Kanungu District and Member of the NRM Central Executive Committee.