A total of 27 doctors under the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) were on Wednesday afternoon roughed up and arrested in a foiled attempt to petition the Speaker of Parliament over the plight of practicing interns.
The doctors, including 24 males and three females, were intercepted at George Street near the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development while walking with placards to deliver their petition.
Among those arrested include;president of UMA, Dr Samuel Oledo, Dr Herbert Luswata, the General Secretary and other executive members of the association.
Armed police officers nabbed the doctors and bundled them onto two pickup trucks before whisking off to the Central Police Station. Female doctors were not spared regardless of their dress code,their male colleagues struggled to lift them up onto the trucks as their dresses drew up.
According to police, the group will be charged for holding an illegal procession and behaving in a manner likely to cause the spread of disease.
Luke Owoyesigire, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, says they violated COVID-19 standard operating procedures that prohibit all processions or gatherings that are not permitted by the Ministry of Health.
“The procession was illegal and unlawful given that we are living in the Covid 19 times,they should have gotten permission from the Ministry of Health,”He said
He says that Policeis taking their statements and will either release them on bond or remand them.
By the time of their arrest,the doctors had marched from Mulago Guest House where UMA held a press conference to Parliament.
