Uganda's opposition leaders are suffering from Munchausen Syndrome

Political leaders in Uganda especially those in opposition are developing a history of shunning local hospitals in preference for treatment abroad at the expense of the tax payer.

Initially this behaviour was popular among government officials but since the intervention from President Museveni has since become a habit of those in Opposition.

Grandpa one of the pillars of the NRM manifesto was/is providing quality health services and making these available, accessible to Ugandans of all walks of life. What these opposition leaders are trying to show the international community and their sympathizers is a picture of a failed system which is far from reality. Our hospitals are very capable and these MPs should be treated here just like the Bazukulu they represent.

It's not appropriate that members of parliament should treat this as a luxury in that even when they feel fatigued should be flown abroad for treatment.

I will explain to you what Munchausen syndrome means. It's basically a situation where someone fakes illness to gain sympathy and attention. This is exactly what opportunists in Uganda are doing, they will stop at nothing to prove their case even posing for near dead in presence of media.

Bazukulu have been forced to rely on assertions from these opposition leaders since it gives them a feeling of truth yet has no basis of fact at all. Feelings and not facts is what opportunists are instilling in your Bazukulu dear Grandpa. Grandpa has always warned the Bazukulu against believing in lies from these fellas.

It has become a growing habit for opposition figures who have cases preferred against them to  fake illness as means of inviting sympathy and attention from the unsuspecting public. They pretend to be sick and refuse to be treated by our very skilled health workers even when they don't require an specialized attention. What Ugandans don't know is that whenever such situations are in play the most happy persons are the opposition leaders who will use this as an opportunity fleece their funders.

Why do you think these leaders never allow government doctors to access them. We are tired of this drama, Ugandans shouldn't be taken for fools. If government doctors find it necessary for any leader to get specialized medical treatment, then a referral should be made and necessary arrangements will be availed to facilitate such travels.

These opposition leaders have filed cases of torture and harassment from security personnel while in detention with The Uganda Human Rights Commission and the commission together with other Human Rights organizations have called for investigations into the matter. It's just proper that the legislators allow authorized medical workers from government to examine them and furnish the public with authentic reports which will also assist the relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators to book.

Finally these should wait for the medical board to approve their referrals for specialized treatment abroad.

The board is fully responsible for reviewing and ascertaining conditions of such patients and if found deserving referrals are instantly made. This will only happen however in a worst case scenario where treatment can't be offered by any local facility. It's also my appeal to the general public and other legislators that the board be left to its work and should not be forced to make decisions under duress or coercion