FDC warns government over assuming Besigye’s health

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 29 NOVEMBER 2011

FDC Deputy Spokesperson Toterebuka Bawenda at the press conference in Najjanankumbi yesterday.

The government should stop propagating rumours that Dr Kizza Besigye is bedridden, FDC party has said. Addressing the party’s weekly press conference, yesterday, FDC deputy spokesperson Toterebuka Bamwenda said the government used similar allegations of Dr Besigye’s ill-health in 2001.

“I can vividly report to the country that Dr Besigye is in good health and the small flu he has shouldn’t worry anyone. He is capable and executing his executive duties,” Mr Bamwenda said.

He said if Mr Besigye’s health deteriorates, the government is to blame due to the chemicals security operatives applied on him during the April walk-to-work protests.
“Most of these poisonous gases and liquids sprayed on him during the protests take time to develop but the last test results were negative but we are waiting for conclusive results.”

Mr Bamwenda said if Dr Besigye’s sickness worsens, Ugandans should challenge the manner in which State operative Gilbert Bwana Arinaitwe sprayed an unknown liquid on him in April.

The government, however, was yesterday unwilling to comment on the issue as Information Minister Mary Karooro Okurut referred this reporter to the police.
“Talk to police, they will be in position to explain,” she said.

Deputy Police Spokesperson Vincent Sekatte refused to comment on the matter and referred this reporter to his superiors, Ms Judith Nabakooba and Asuman Mugyenyi, both of whom were unavailable on telephone.

FDC Vice President Salaamu Musumba last week said Dr Besigye had been rushed to America in critical condition after being attacked by a serious illness which had kept him at home for a week.

“This sickness started during the walk to work protests when he was arrested along the Mulago roundabout on his way to work. Amid that chaos, he contracted the infection which intensified and he was rushed to Nairobi Hospital in Kenya before being taken to America,” Ms Musumba said.

However, speaking to this newspaper by telephone at the weekend from his family’s home in New York, Dr Besigye urged his supporters to relax and ignore people anxious to pronounce him dead.