Nambooze: "I have not told anyone to collect money to clear my medical bills"

Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, who is undergoing spine treatment at India’s Manipal Spinal Centre, has distanced herself from people collecting money on her behalf claiming that she is stuck without money to pay her medical bills.

“I have seen reports indicating that I am stranded in an Indian hospital because I ran out of funds…it’s true I need money over and above what I had been required to spend and Parliament is yet to give me any funds in relation to my present situation but I won’t require public fundraising to meet my medical bills,” the legislator told The Nile Post by telephone.

She said she is hopeful money will be found and expressed gratitude to those who had voluntereed to contribute something.

The legislator has to raise at least $10,500 (Shs 37 million) to clear part of her bills after doctors carried out another investigation and found she had another complicated ailment which needed immediate attention.

She was due to return to the theatre on Friday (July 20) but this website has established the MP developed a fever which means she needs more time to recuperate before being taken through the exercise.

Nambooze said:  “I have low blood pressure and doctors have said I can’t undergo surgery in this form,”

Nambooze has always had to fight to access government medical care abroad. For her trip to South Africa a couple of years back, Nambooze was told she was told she was not sick enough to deserve that service.

Parliament in May paid her travel and upkeep expenses for one person and $7500 for the hospital. She was due to travel on June 17 when police arrested her over remarks she made in the aftermath of Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga’s death.

It was during this detention that Nambooze’s health further worsened. And when the government finally was satisfied she required specialist treatment, the hospital in India sent a new invoice basing on the referral letter from Mulago hospital.

However, her bill estimate had risen to $21000 (Shs 77 million), and she would be required to stay for three weeks, travel with next of kin and a medic.

Parliament said the financial year had closed and they couldn’t spend. We understand that Nambooze’s family toppled up the funds including for her husband, and a medic from Bugolobi Medical Centre, on top of meeting the hospital balance of $1,350 (Shs 4.5 million) and their upkeep.