Last Thursday, Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi AKA Bobi Wine jetted out of the country for further medical treatment in America.
The MP who together with his Mityana Municipality counterpart Francis Zaake had been hospitalized at Lubaga Hospital, before seeking permission to travel abroad.
Zaake too left for India on Monday after being granted clearance by police having been charged with terrorism and released on bond.
MPs needed no specialised treatment
Government has come out to deny that Bobi Wine and Zaake required specialized treatment abroad.
The MPs initially tried to travel last week but were barred at Entebbe International airport by police over lack of medical authorization
According Health Minister Jane Ruth Acheng, any Ugandan seeking a referral abroad must be examined by a senior medical consultant who then writes to the board seeking permission on behalf of his client.
“The medical board then summons this consultant to defend his recommendations,” said Acheng.
MPs were not stopped from flying out
The government also denied that Bobi Wine and Francis Zaake were barred from travel since the two legislators resisted attempts by government doctors to examine them.
Under government regulations for travel abroad for treatment, one is supposed to be examined by a government doctor approved by the medical board who then issues a report that would grant them travel.
The report from Lugaba Hospital shows that Zaake suffered from post-trauma disorder, while Bobi Wine had some injuries.
MPs were not tortured
The doctors who initially examined the two legislators were family doctors whose diagnosis was not considered by government.
After the diagnosis, Acheng revealed that the pair’s case could be handled by Ugandan specialists.
“Their case didn’t need foreign experts. We could handle it here,” said the Minister, adding that the two law makers are on their own since they never sought government help for medical treatment.
Bobi Wine and Zaake were arrested in Arua a day before the Arua Municipality by-elections. The two, together with other 33 other were held after scuffles that saw one of the president’s cars pelted with stones. In the ensuing chaos where the MPs resisted arrest, they were reportedly manhandled leading to injuries which saw them hospitalised.
Yesterday Bobi Wine issued a public statement detailing the gruesome handling he underwent under the hands of the police in which he said he was allegedly tortured and that his present bad health was a result of that ordeal.
This morning government came out to give their position on the MP’s allegations.
