By Our Reporter,
NATIONAL
The Democratic Party has called upon government to improve on the health facilities in government prisons across the country. This call was made by Ismail Kiirya, the acting party spokesperson at the Party briefing on Tuesday 14th January at Party Headquarters along Balintuma road.
Kiirya was referring to circumstances surrounding the death of former Kawempe North member of parliament, Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya who passed away on account of poor prison health facilities which could not handle his condition after his was occasionally denied bail despite his ill health.
Kiirya re-echoed the voices of millions of people who blamed Ssegirinya’s death on the government’s mismanagement to the legislator’s health by denying him bail to seek medical care abroad. He said had the facilities been up to the task, perhaps, Ssegirinya’s case would not have turned worse the way it did.
Health is a basic human right which should be enjoyed by all irrespective of the circumstances. This is enshrined in both national and international legal instruments. In the event one’s condition cannot be handled by the prison health facility, the inmate should be released for treatment – subject to certain conditions.
The Democratic Party also called upon the population to separate politics from grief.
“If what was witnessed at Ssegirinya’s burial is anything to go by, then most parents will discourage their children from engaging in politics,” he said.
It should be recalled that Ssegirinya’s burial was married with ugly scenes between Mpuuga’s group and Bobi wines,each with parallel funeral sites.
A funeral proceeding organised by Mpuuga was to be held at an open ground and another was held at the home of the deceased’s family.
DP says the burial of Ssegirinya would have united mourners from diverse political wings and condemned the misbehavior exhibited by the NUP group.
