The Kawempe North Division Member of Parliament (MP), Muhammad Ssegirinya’s medical bills will be paid by Parliament if his documents are in line with the Uganda Medical Board.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa made this assurance during plenary on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, following social media worries that Ssegirinya had not got financial help for his treatment abroad.
Tayebwa stated that the Speaker’s office, the Clerk to Parliament’s office, and the Medical Board had not received any application from Ssegirinya for treatment at the Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra Hospital in the Netherlands, where he is currently admitted.
He persuaded his immediate family, however, to present his documents to the medical board so that he may receive financial help.
“The moment we are told that Hon. Ssegirinya’s documents have been approved, we shall ensure he receives all the necessary funding the next day, just like we have done for other Members of Parliament,” Tayebwa said.
He denied social media claims that Parliament had done nothing to support Ssegirinya, stating that established standards must be followed when processing treatment overseas for anyone, whether MP or Minister.
Tayebwa explained that a member needing treatment abroad, must apply to the Uganda Medical Board for a referral, which is signed by the referring doctor and two senior medical practitioners, and then defended before a team of 12 specialists on the medical board.
“Upon approval of the board, the patient is issued with a referral letter from the Director General of Health Services. The Minister for Health then issues a communication to Parliament or Office of the Prime Minister for processing of foreign currency and the referral,” Tayebwa noted.
“I have seen you honorable colleagues, putting other officials on oath and even directing CID to arrest government officials for not following accountability procedure. The yardstick you base others on is the same one you should use,” Tayebwa added.
He asked lawmakers to follow established guidelines when it comes to the usage of public funds.
