MP Kiyingi airlifted to Thailand in critical condition

Bukomansimbi Member of Parliament, Mr Deogratious Kiyingi has been airlifted to Thailand in critical condition.

Mr Kiyingi was flown out of the country on life support on Saturday in the company of his wife, Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs.

The MP has been battling lung complications since November 2017. He was hospitalised at Agha Khan Hospital late last year but his health deteriorated early this year.

The Democratic Party MP is admitted in Phyanthai 2 Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.
Mr Kiyingi's political strategist, Muhammad Musa Matovu Kigongo, says his boss could hardly breathe on the day he was taken to Thailand.

According to Mr Kigongo, Mr Kiyingi developed complications in November last year but his conditioned worsened in December.

Mr Kigongo, however, expressed optimism that the MP health would improve given the quality of medical services in Thailand.

Mr Kiyingi missed the crucial vote on the removal of the presidential age limit in December. Some Democratic Party members accused him of feigning sickness to avoid the controversial vote because of his reported conflict of interest.

Some DP members have repeatedly accused Mr Kiyingi of working with president Yoweri Museveni since his wife decided to take up a ministerial appointment in government.

But Mr Kiyingi insists he is still a member of the opposition party despite the fact that his wife works for the ruling National Resistance Movement government.