KAMPALA – Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has hit at the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) over claims that she has recommended a quack US medical doctor who is ready to manufacture a coronavirus treatment vaccine.
In a press conference on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, Dr Richard Idro, the UMA President, questioned Ms Kadaga’s decision to announce that Uganda was in the process of manufacturing a coronavirus treatment vaccine with the help of Prof. Sarfaraz. Dr Idro added that Speaker’s revelation instead diverts the population from known and effective preventive messages.
But in a Facebook post issued shortly after, the Speaker of Parliament said she does not deal with quacks and said the doctors should have shared their concerns with her instead of resorting to a press conference.
“The plenary is on. In ‘Communication from the Chair’, I’ve assured MPs and the country that contrary to social media insults and claims by Uganda Medical Association leaders, I do not deal with quacks. I’ve also taken issue with the doctors’ resort to a press conference instead of having the courtesy to come and share their concerns with me,” she said.
“Matthias Magoola, who is being derided, is not a quack. I’ve shown evidence of his new pharmaceutical firms; in Luzira and Matugga. I’ve made laid on the table, five academic books penned by Prof. Sarfaraz, who is being insulted as well. He was the brainchild behind the famous ‘Obama Care’ in the U.S. My concern is creation of local capacity for production of drugs,” Ms Kadaga added.
Kadaga while chairing a Parliament sitting on Monday March 16 said: “A Professor who manufactured a treatment for corona virus in the US was here last week and he has donated the patent to Uganda and within a fortnight, the treatment will be made here….. It will be made by a Company called Dei International. …..There is hope and the treatment will start here in Uganda.”
But Dr. Idro on Tuesday expressed displeasure about the quack cadre scientists whose desire he said is to misinform the leadership of Uganda.
“From what we understand, whatever was purported as a treatment, cure or vaccine is actually a disinfectant meant for external body use,” he said.