Beatrice Anywar, the Kitgum woman Member of Parliament has denied allegations that she has benefitted from the victims of nodding disease as alleged by Acholi leaders. This is the first time Anywar has made her position public after the accusations were made against her in March.
In February, Anywar transported 25 nodding disease victims and 30 caretakers to Mulago for treatment. At the time, she claimed that she used her own money to transport the victims. It is from this trip Acholi leaders accused her of benefiting from 50 million shillings given by President Yoweri Museveni towards facilitating the move.
At a recent NRM National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at Entebbe, Jane Akwero, the former Kitgum woman MP accused President Museveni of rewarding the defectors from opposition parties with ministerial posts while sidelining NRM party faithfuls. Beatrice Anywar’s name is said to have featured among those favoured. It is said that the president is in constant touch with the opposition legislator more than the NRM leaders from Kitgum District.
On Wednesday, a news conference organized by Anywar was diverted by journalists who persistently demanded to know how the lawmaker has benefitted at the expense of nodding disease victims.
She admitted that President Museveni facilitated the trip to Mulago hospital but did not handle the money herself. Asked how much the president gave, Anywar feigned ignorance saying she did not know, adding that her role was representation and coordination.
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Anywar said she had planned to bring ten children to Kampala for treatment prior to Museveni’s contribution. When she contacted the president on the matter, Museveni reportedly hesitated thinking the disease was contagious like Ebola. But after consultation with the Ministry of Health officials, the president called Anywar clearing her intended trip to Kampala. It is at this stage that Anywar added the number of victims from 10 to 25 bringing the total number to 50 including a helper for each child.
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Now, the legislator has threatened to sue Kitgum district chairperson, Luka Nyeko for defamation and spreading malicious rumors over the money received from the president.
Up to 190 children are believed to have died and more than 3000 others are battling the mentally and physically disabling disease since it was first reported in Northern Uganda in 2009.
