Minister, MPs clash at burial over doctors’ strike
L-R: Ministry of Health undersecretary Mr Ronald Ssegawa, Minister Jane Ruth Aceng and Bukomansimbi South MP Deogratius Kiyingi. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER KISEKKA
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Dr Kaggwa was been laid to rest at his ancestral home in Serinya, Butenga Sub County in Bukomansimbi District amid tears and wails.
BUKOMANSIMBI. Health Minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has clashed with several Members of Parliament over the ongoing medical officers’ industrial action.
Although the minster insists that government is not insensitive to the medical workers’ plight, MPs including Deogratius Kiyingi, (Bukomansimbi south), Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu (Kalungu West) and Veronica Nanyondo (Woman MP Bukomansimbi) say little has been done to address the medics’ concerns.
Referring to the government move to have doctors from armed forces deployed to attend to patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Mr Kiyingi said threats against the striking medics will not solve the problem.
“As we send off one of the greatest doctors in our country, I can’t forget to tell the minister that these noble servants deserve more and instead of threatening them you (government) should rather negotiate with them,’ Mr Kiyingi said during the burial of the former Mulago Hospital executive director, Dr Lawrence Kaggwa.
Minister Aceng was one of the government officials who attended the burial.
Mr Kiyingi further noted that the strategy of employing doctors from security agencies will not be effective since the number of the said armed forces’ doctor is very small as compared to the number of huge number of patients.
Mourners cheered the law makers as they put government on the spot.
Before Ms Aceng read President Museveni’s condolence message to the bereaved family and mourners, she spared some munities to make a few remarks on what the previous speaker had said.
“Although this is not the right place to address the strike, I will say that the government is well aware of the doctors’ plight and committed to resolve the matter,” said Ms Aceng.
She however, challenged the MPs that it is their duty to appropriate funds to different departments and urged them to do the said duty wisely in the debate on national budget.
Mr Ssewungu said that during the ninth parliament, opposition MPs and as a section of their colleagues from the ruling NRM party pushed for an increment of medical officers’ pay but their plans were failed by government.
“It is on record that we pushed for this but government resisted. It reached an extent of voting on the issue in the House and that is when NRM chased away [MP] Muhammad Nsereko, Ssekikubo and others blaming them of siding with us (Opposition),” Mr Ssewungu said.
After the requiem mass, the minister together with the Health Undersecretary, Mr Ronald Ssegawa had a rough exchange with the MPs before she entered her car to leave.
Dr Kaggwa was been laid to rest at his ancestral home in Serinya, Butenga Sub County in Bukomansimbi District amid tears and wails.
In his message read by Ms Aceng, Mr Museveni said that the deceased will be remembered as a committed servant and a great patriot for his service in different capacities more so during the twelve years at the ‘great’ Mulago National Referral Hospital.
