10 arrested over polio immunisation

Health officials with support from police immunise a child at Bulubandi village in Iganga District. PHOTO BY YAZID YOLISIGIRA

What you need to know:

Belief. The programme was supposed to run from April 1-3 in the district, but followers of the sect hid their children saying their teachings bar them from immunisation.

Mayuge. At least 10 members of a Christian religious group, Njiri Nkalu, are being held by police in Mayuge District after an operation by the police and health workers who forcefully immunised more than 200 children against polio.
The programme was supposed to run from April 1-3 in the district, but followers of the sect hid their children saying their teachings bar them from immunisation.

However, last Saturday, a combined team of health workers, the police and officials from the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), stormed Wairasa Sub-county and forced their way into the homes of members of the sect in the villages of Magamaga, Igulwibi, Missoli, Ntinkalu and Busuyi.
Upon seeing the team, which was led by Mayuge RDC, Mr Suleiman Baraza, and the Mayuge District Health Officer, Mr Charles Nabangi, members of the sect in Misoli and Ntinkalu villages fled into nearby sugarcane fields.
However, they were easily traced because of the crying children.

Health officials believe that followers of the group had earlier told their children to always flee and hide at the sight of health officials because many of the children were found hiding in the bushes with no grown-up supervision.
In Igulwibi village, a follower of the group, Ms Sarah Namuwaya, insisted that immunisation was unnecessary.
“We don’t see why you bring all these guns to harass us. Our children are protected by God and we don’t need polio vaccines,” she said.

The officials also forcefully gained entry into the homes of Tabliq Muslims who had also refused to immunise their children.
Mr Baraza said another operation will be carried out to ensure that all children are vaccinated.
“Although the operation was a success, there are those who were tipped off and disappeared into the bushes with their children. We shall come back to get them,” he said.