Yesterday, Samia Bugwe North MP Aggrey Awori said that government deliberately ignored Wapa.

"[State Foreign minister Tom] Butime lied to Parliament that [Wapa] left [a London] hospital [more than a month ago] because of change of weather, but how could someone in hospital be affected by weather?" Awori said.



----- Original Message ----- 
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To: UPC UPC 
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2004 1:37 AM
Subject: Wpakabulo is haunting Museveni.


Govt mistreated Wapa - family 
By Henry Ochieng & Emma Mutaizibwa 
April 1 , 2004

      KAMPALA - The family of fallen minister James Wapakhabulo wants government to explain why their loved one was abandoned during his last days.

      "Government owes us an explanation as to why our son, Wapakhabulo, passed away quietly at his home [in Bugolobi]," Ms Florence Kasigwa, Wapa's sister, told mourners at yesterday's funeral service at Namirembe Cathedral.

      The deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, popularly known as Wapa, passed away on Saturday. Two MPs - Emmanuel Dombo (Bunyole) and John Kazoora (Kashari) - lambasted government on Tuesday as Wapa's body lay in state in the Parliament chamber.

      Dombo said it was "shameful that for a man who gave so much not many people were by his side at his hour of need". "Even some of his Cabinet colleagues did not know about his sickness," Kazoora said.

      Yesterday, Samia Bugwe North MP Aggrey Awori said that government deliberately ignored Wapa.

      "[State Foreign minister Tom] Butime lied to Parliament that [Wapa] left [a London] hospital [more than a month ago] because of change of weather, but how could someone in hospital be affected by weather?" Awori said.

      He said that the Medical Board, which approves medical bills for government officials, did not sit because it was not presented with the facts of Wapa's situation.

      Awori said when Wapa recently returned from treatment abroad he was supposed to have taken a three-month bed rest but was instead assigned to lead a government delegation to Rwanda.

      "As a result, he didn't go back to London where he was supposed to go for a check up; he had no money advanced on his medical bill and it was too difficult for him to go back," Awori said.

      Awori, who said he was Wapa's personal friend, added that on January 27 he met him at the airport as he prepared to go back to hospital. "[But] he was instead told to go and prepare for the President's visit in London. 

      He came back with the President after he was told that there was no money for his treatment," the MP said by phone. Awori said that even after he had died, government responded shabbily.

      "They could not secure a place in Mulago for his body; it was until the sister threatened to take the body to Mbale that government panicked to take it to Nsambya Hospital."

      Responding to these accusations last evening, Information minister Nsaba Buturo said by telephone: "It is true we have a very complicated system. If you want support you apply through the Medical Council, he didn't apply to council. The assumption was that he could look after himself.

      "It was an oversight. Government has been responsible for every expense since he passed away. This is the indication that government has been keen to support him. Government will not ignore him".

      Vice President Gilbert Bukenya read President Museveni's condolence message at the funeral service. "I have been working with James for the last 36 years. We cut our political teeth together as undergraduates at the University of Dar es Salaam," Museveni said.

      "James was a truly remarkable person, a great mind without being arrogant and a great patriot. He was part of the struggle to end mayhem and anarchy." 

      Additional reporting by Emmanuel N. Mugarura & Mercy Nalugo
     


© 2004 The Monitor Publications

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