By Juliet Waiswa
and Timothy Kasura

POLICE yesterday deployed at Mulago Hospital as women activists belonging to the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) marched to the hospital and donated items to the maternity wards.

Over 100 women led by the Uganda Peoples Congress party president, Miria Kalule Obote, forced their way into the hospital. The hospital authorities had earlier agreed to let in 30 of the women, but were shocked to see a bigger group marching into the hospital. Police officers were then deployed in the wards.

The authorities also barred journalists from entering the hospital even after pleas from FDC’s spokesman Wafula Oguttu.

The executive director of Mulago Hospital, Dr. Edward Ddumba, told the women that the initial agreement was to grant access to 30 women into the hospital without the press.

He observed that it was unfair for the women to change the terms of the agreement and expect the hospital administration to cooperate.

The activists carried placards with messages like “high infant mortality rates, we need change.” They also chanted slogans praising the IPC and criticising the Government.

Ingrid Turinawe, the chairperson of IPC Women for Peace, said the situation at the hospital was bad and that is why the journalists were barred from entering the premises.

Earlier while addressing the press at Christ the King church, Miria Obote said they had not celebrated Women’s Day because the Government had failed to bring the change which it promised 24 years ago.

She added that there was no reason to celebrate the day when thousands of women died in government hospitals.