UMA president urged to join politics

PIC: Kasambya South MP Gaffa Mbwatekamwa. (Credit: Francis Emorut)

POLITICS

KAMPALA - The state minister for primary healthcare, Dr Joyce Moriku and the Kasambya South MP Gaffa Mbwatekamwa, have advised the president of the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) to join politics and influence policies in the Government.

They said Dr Ekwaro Obuku is capable of being a legislator to make laws in Parliament for posterity.

"You are a strong man please join Parliament to ensure that things can move. We need you in Parliament," MP Mbwatekamwa said.

The lawmaker was speaking during a media breakfast meeting on the Africa vaccination week at Fairway Hotel in Kampala, recently.

The UMA president refused to bow down to government's pressure to call off the medical workers' strike.

Praising Dr Obuku for refusing to be intimidated, Mbwatekamwa said Parliament needs as many strong advocates that will not be cowed down.

The MP opposed the Government's proposal to import Cuban doctors, saying Ugandan doctors should be facilitated.

"I will not be party to that. We shall fight to ensure that Ugandan doctors are well-facilitated and besides what language are the Cuban doctors going to speak?" Mbwatekamwa asked.

He said the money that is going to be used to hire interpreters should be used to pay Ugandan doctors.

Moriku agreed with Mbwatekamwa, saying Obuku deserves to be in Parliament and make remarkable contributions to the legislation.

Regarding immunisation, Dr Obuku encouraged all health facilities to observe Africa vaccination Week to scale up immunisation.