Kampala. There was an outpouring of sympathies and emotional wishes for quick recovery for former First Lady Miria Kalule Obote following news that she has been taken into intensive care at a city hospital.
Her son and Lira Municipality Member of Parliament Jimmy James Akena broke the news that their mother had been hospitalised with a chest infection.
The statement did not provide further details. It noted that the 82-year-old, first admitted on November 4, had been shifted to a “high dependence unit” at the unnamed medical facility.
Ugandans across the political divide and social strata yesterday took to social networking sites Facebook and Twitter to empathise with the Obote family.
Among the many who wished Ms Obote speedy healing were the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Jacob Oulanyah, and the deputy secretary general of the ruling National Resistance Movement, Mr Richard Todwong.
“We hold her in prayers and may God guide the doctors,” Mr Oulanyah wrote. On his part, Mr Todwong posted: “May the good Lord restore mama’s health. We wish her a quick recovery.”
Special attention
In the statement issued on Saturday to family and friends, MP Akena said their mother was hospitalised on November 4.
“The medical team [is] now assessing the possibility of her suffering from viral pneumonia and such that last night, November 9, she was moved to the High Dependency Unit for closer monitoring,” Mr Akena noted, adding:
“The medical team is working competently towards restoring her good health…we will not be able to host the Milton Obote Memorial Lecture earlier scheduled for November 18.”
Other Ugandans praying for Ms Obote’s recovery are Mr Anthony Okucu, who, according to his Facebook profile, is a Uganda National Roads Authority station manager; Ms Zelda Namutebi of Wakiso District, Ms Stella Nabunya and lawyer Edgar Muvunyi Tabaro.
Mr Conrad Nkutu, the former head of corporate affairs at Tullow Uganda Operations, noted in a Facebook post that he is “very sorry to hear” the news that Ms Obote is indisposed.
“Beautiful, friendly and very dignified First Lady who tried to raise her sons without special privileges,” he wrote. “Best wishes for her recovery from me and our family,” he added.
When Daily Monitor telephone Mr Akena on Sunday, he referred to the statement he issued on Saturday.
“I put out a statement. I am not adding anything more to it,” he said.
By Daily Monitor
