KEITH MUHAKANIZI FLOWN TO TURKEY FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT 3 BILLION SHILLINGS BILL TO BE CLEARED BY TAX PAYERS
Health Professionals have protested to President Museveni Tibuhabulwa Kaguta after top officials from government flew abroad for treatment.
Keith Muhakanizi, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, Planning and Secretary to the Treasury was flown to Turkey for medical checkup.
Muhakanizi is going to spend $550,000(about shs2 billion) on one trip.
Addressing a Press Conference at Fellowship of Christians Union(FOCUS) in Mulago said their major concern was the plight of Ugandans dying due to the poor health care system.
They cited $123m(shs455 billion) which was spent on government officials in India alone in 2016.
The Health Professionals want President Museveni to respond to their letter which highlighted issues affecting the health sector in the country and abolishing treatment of government officials.
Last year, Keith Muhakanizi was treated for cancer in Thailand where more than one billion was spent on his treatment.
Muhakanizi is not alone, Bank of Uganda Governor, Tumusiime Mutebile has been on kidney treatment abroad taking billions of shillings.
The burden of treating the two senior officials could have supplemented the improvement of the cancer institute that has taken time to improve.
Newvision quotes Dr Emmanuel Luyirika telling journalists in Kampala that no response has come. The treatment is robbing Uganda of huge resources which should be invested in the country’s healthcare system.
Dr Stephen Watiti , Dr Richard Idro, the President of Uganda Medical Association and Dr Olive Kobusingye among other experts highlighted issues of treating government officials abroad which they suggested should be abolished.
As the health experts cried out to the President, Keith Muhakanizi was flying out for medical checkup because he doesn’t trust in Uganda Cancer Institute to treat him.
On the African Continent, the President of Nigeria broke the record for being treated abroad for minor ailments like infections.
