Ugandan Members of Parliament (MPs) especially those who voted in favour of removing presidential limits from the Constitution are living in fear over suspected poisoning within Parliament.
Cecilia Ogwal, the Dokolo District Woman MP, who recently crossed from FDC to the ruling NRM on Thursday took to the floor of Parliament to express the suspected poisoning taking place within Parliament.
“I want to request that we should take keen interest in the administration of the environment we live in. The issue of poisoning isn’t new in this Parliament, there are times when reports were officially made to the Speaker for attempted poisoning of some our colleagues. That matter was kept quiet; we thought it would embarrass the image of Parliament. But I think, however much it can embarrass us, let us talk about it,” Ogwal said.
She added: “Let us know how people are being poisoned.. We have decided that we eat in our own restaurant, and relate with ourselves but now it is being proved that even the environment we live in, isn’t safe. So I think it is important that we take interest in the administration of our own environment, we should know the people who handle our food.
Let us not take things for granted. Therefore, don’t think it will be the stranger to give you poisoned food; it could be the people next to you. So I think it is important that we should take precaution and take care of you.”
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah supported Ogwal, noting that the Budiope East (Buyende district) MP, Geofrey Dhamuzungu should be one Legislator speaking in tongues, thanking his creator for sparing his life after surviving the journey to meet his creator after he won the battle of suspected food poisoning.
“As you may have known, our own colleague Geofrey Dhamuzungu has been hospitalised in Case Hospital due to suspected food poisoning, I am happy to report that he was discharged from hospital on 28th April 2018 and is recuperating from his home. I urge you in the spirit of Parliamentary solidarity, check on him and send messages of support because he needs this encouragement more than ever before,” Ogwal said.
Ogwal also thanked God saving Joyce Moriku, the Minister of State for Primary Health Care from death.
“… from the lay man’s view, we draw our conclusion that she suffered food poisoning, whether food poisoning is the same as poisoning, that one also will require medical interpretation. Joyce was lingering between the grave and the world a few minutes before she was taken to Nairobi and it was only by God’s intervention that Joyce is able to meet us today.
I want to thank God, for those of you who don’t believe in God, there is a God and that is a testimony on how God is still in the business of healing the sick.”
Minister Moriku revealed of how she has moved from hospital to another to save her life.
“Indeed I was in coma for more than six months. You prayed all sorts of prayers and indeed finally, God heard your prayers. I told the people I will not die, the devil is a liar, God is my shepherd. I found myself in Nairobi, I want to thank all of you for the support you gave to my family. The president was very passionate about my health.
I thank this Parliament for the financial resources; it was the Parliament that incurred [the medical bills],” she said.
She added: “Let’s really take care of ourselves; know what you eat and whom you eat with, you can’t call [one] a friend unless it is really an intimate friend. It started with the issue of food poisoning; all medical tests didn’t come out with a unilateral illness. Foreign bodies were found in my body. Let us be one another’s keeper.”
