By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Uganda Medical Board has said they will meet costs for the treatment of Kampala Lord Mayor, His Worship Erias Lukwago who is in India for cervical decompression and fusion spinal surgery.
On Wednesday (April 24), Lukwago said he was traveling to India for treatment for a herniated disc that has caused him pain for some time. According to him, several tests, doctors recommended surgery.
“On a medical journey to India upon referral by physicians to have a specialised Anterior Cervical Disc and Fusion surgery to remove the bulging C6-7 Disc that has bothered me for two months with excruciating pain at the back and upper left limb. All will be well, with His Grace,” Lukwago posted on his X platform formerly Twitter.
In another letter by Dr. Henry Nwebesa, the director general of medical services at the ministry of health dated April 16 to neurosurgeons Dr. Rishabh Kediah and Paul Verinder Singh at Mendata Mediclinic in CyberCity, New Delhi India, he said Kampala Capital City Authority will meet costs related to travel, treatment and stay while in India.
“This is to introduce to you, His Worship Erias Lukwago, a 54-year-old male and Lord Mayor of Kampala who was diagnosed with cervical spine, C6-7, disc prolapse with C6 left foraminal stenosis and acute radiculopathy over two months ago. He has been undergoing conservative pain management with minimal improvement. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) done revealed C6-7 disc reduced height with normal disc signal, asymmetrical left-sided disc with a spinal canal diameter of 11.46mm, cervical spondylotic changes with degeneration of L2-L3 intervertebral discs,” read a letter in parts.
Accordingly, Dr. Norbert Orwoth, an orthopedic surgeon at Mulago hospital had been referred to the facility for anterior cervical decompression due to limited in country operative capacity.
Lukwago will travel alongside one attendant, his brother according to the approval by the board.
In 2021, Lukwago was rushed to Nairobi hospital in Kenya after he collapsed during a requiem mass for the late Kampala Archdiocese ArchBishop Most Rt. Rev. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga at Lubaga cathedral, Kampala.
It was later revealed that he was suffering recurring dizziness, persistent abdominal discomfort and severe chest pain. Another medical test had previously showed that the Lord Mayor had acute anaphylaxis and allergic reactions to certain foods, insects, stings and medicines. May He Recover Soon.
