President Museveni Health Minister Dr Aceng Ruth and PS Dr Diana Atwine. A photo collage of PMDaily
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Last Updated on: 30th June 2021, 07:01 pm
By Isaah Otto Amiza
The country is desirous to receive Dr Aceng’s medical and political expertise and actions on corona vaccination, treatment and lockdown issued by her appointing authority.
Oyam, 30 June 2021: I am reacting on the statement made by the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine over bad laws preventing the Ministry of Health from fighting Covid-19 pandemic as published on the front page of Daily Monitor of 26th June 2021.
In the latest times and not later than today, I have repeatedly read more from the PS Dr. Atwine on Covid-19 and the response from government.
Before cabinet ministers were appointed, I kept my patience, but immediately after the re- appointment of Hon. Dr. Ruth Aceng Ocero, I expected her political and medical authority to guide the nation on the Covid-19 pandemic.
But to my shock I continue to read the lame excuses from the PS, throwing blames of failures by the Ministry in handling Covid-19 to lack of sufficient laws.
An excuse which is empty and diversionary is very sad and should only be said by an ignorant public servant. I had expected Hon. Aceng, now being a Minister from the political appointment and formerly a Minister by President’s choice, whom I believe has a better understanding and appreciation of the health policy and gaps in legislation would come with such excuses, if any!
I am now tempted to believe that the Ministry of Health is hijacked by the PS, who is taking orders directly from the appointing authority and leaving my wonderful political Doctor / Minister in wonderment.
The country is desirous to receive Aceng’s medical and political expertise and actions on corona vaccination, treatment and lockdown issued by her appointing authority.
As I wait to hear the policy and political statement from the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Ruth Aceng Ocero, I wish to dismiss Dr. Atwine’s weak excuse for the legal gaps, as being the bottleneck stopping government from fighting Covid-19 pandemic.
I am further wondering how the current laws are stopping vaccination, treatment and public health education.
I pray the Minister for Health takes her full position and guides the nation while Atwine also gets down to do her technical work at the Ministry upon strict supervision of the Minister of Health. It’s even more terrible now that, the shameless Hon. Muhanga is back in the fold with her sad record in UBC.
Otherwise, the in the Ministry of Health is bound to become another extension of the family State House Management Unit without any serious work to do for the people of Uganda.
The author is a former Oyam South MP, Lango sub-region.
