Kamya demands House recall over nodding disease

Uganda Federal Alliance president Beti Kamya has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadagga, to recall Parliament immediately to discuss the nodding disease that has hit parts of northern Uganda.

According to the petition dated January 25, Parliament should not discuss anything until a satisfactory process to deal with the disease has been reached.

“Fellow countrymen and women, for once, let’s all drop everything and unite against the nodding disease. This epidemic is worse than Aids, it is more important than oil, it is the kind of thing for which Parliament should be recalled from recess immediately,” Ms Kamya said.

Reports indicate that at least 200 children have been killed by the epidemic and 3,000 were reported affected by this month. Mr Mbonye, the commissioner for health services in the Ministry of Health, fears that the disease could spread to other parts of the region after it emerged that each family in Tumangut Sub-county in Kitgum District has a case of nodding disease.

He said leaders are engaged in other activities yet nodding disease is more important. Acholi MPs had earlier proposed that the sub-region be declared a disaster area but not much has yielded from their pleas.