Fresh details gathered by this website indicate that the on going countrywide industrial action by medics was designed by individuals close to State opponent Col Kizza Besigye.
Besigye after losing elections last year dismissed a move to petition Court, but rather vowed to continue a defiance campaign to make Uganda ungovernable.
He said he would create a paralysis in the country to expose the illegitimacy of the regime.
According to our sources, the current Doctors’ Strike which has put government on its knees is a creation of Besigye’s agents and sympathisers.
Dr. Ekwaro Obuku
He is the president of the Uganda Medical Association and he recently said the medical workers’ sit-down strike couldn’t have come at a better time than when the government is trying to sell to the public the age limit removal bill.
What surprises many is how Obuku who is not a known government worker leads such a government organisation.
We have learnt that this PHD holder doesn’t work at Mulago Referral Hospital or anywhere in a government hospital.
“How he came to lead this association is something we are yet to come to terms with,” said a source who works in the Health Ministry.
This website has further gathered that Obuku has recently held secret meetings with Col Besigye in undisclosed location in the city.
Among other things discussed include how he will sustain the paralysis in the country when the doctors are not working.
“Basically Obuku was asking for funds to pay these medical workers to be able to maintain the strike,” said a source privy to this meeting.
Whereas Besigye agreed to use his connections to solicit funds to support the cause, he also advised Obuku to start internal covert fundraising.
“Most of the doctors have side businesses like clinics. So Besigye told him to reach out to these medics so raise the money to support the strike,” said a source.
We are told that doctors at Mulago on Wednesday had solicit shs 19 million.
Besigye further guided Obuku that he should tell protesters not to tell the media how they are striking over salaries not instead should say they are lacking tools and conditions they are working in are deplorable.
He (Besigye) also proposed that the terms should be over exaggerated so that government fails to meet doctors’ demands so the strike can last for long.
This website couldn’t independently verify this information.
While addressing the press Obuku dons Red attire to justify the awareness of Red Ribbon campaign which is against the removal of age limit law.
Fact File
Dr. Ekwaro OBUKU is a medical doctor and a clinical trialist (MSc. Clinical Trials, University of London) with experience in implementing large TB and HIV programmes.
Dr Ekwaro Obuku tutors Systematic Reviews in the MSc Clinical Trials Distance Learning course at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, UK; and has several ongoing reviews registered on PROSPERO.
Ekwaro Obuku is a PhD Research Fellow in Health Policy at Makerere University College of Health Sciences.
A PhD Research Fellow in Health Policy.