Police to meet medical bills of ‘neglected’ officer

Police have responded to the claims of neglect against their own officer who is battling with kidney failure.

Cadet ASP Rashid Ssemugenyi told the Nile Post that what started as a simple swelling on the fingers while in Pakwach turned out to be a problem on his kidneys that warranted that he gets a kidney transplants.

He however said that efforts to get redress from police have proved futile after getting only one million shillings from the directorate of welfare for treatment.

However according to police spokesperson Asan Kasingye,police have not neglected meeting the medication bills for their own officer as is being claimed by Ssemugenyi.

“The Uganda Police Force will meet his hospital bills,”Kasingye said in a statement.

He noted that for a patient to be reffered for medical treatment abroad,the case has to be first taken to be taken to the Medical Board by their consultant.

“A medical facility to handle the case has to be identified ,a request made to the Minister of Health who in turn writes to the Office of the Prime Minister for approval of funds,”he added.

According to the Ssemugenyi’s case,a suitable donor must be identified and this must conform to both medical and legal procedures.

According to Jamil Kirabira, Ssemugenyi’s brother two of his relatives were advised to fly with him to Nairobi for kidney tests and possible transplant but the costs were prohibitive.

Kasingye however said all these procedures are being handled adding he is hopeful they would be completed in time for the officer to be flown out for treatment.

“We are committed to the health and wellbeing of our officers and their families.He has been visited by our Director of police Medical Services, Dr.Moses Byaruhanga and his case is being handled.We wish him a quick recovery.”

Efforts to contact Ssemugenyi’s brother for a comment were futile as he could not pick our repeated calls.