Mourners attending the vigil of late singer Harriet Kisaskye were shocked to learn that staff at International Hospital Kampala (IHK) did not give adequate attention to singer Harriet Kisakye who was in critical condition as they awaited a Shs5m payment on Thursday.
Former Kampala councillor Abdul Karim Lukoda who transferred Harriet Kisakye from Mulago Hospital to IHK on Thursday told mourners about the ordeal at National Theatre where a vigil was being held for Kisakye on Sunday night.
“When we arrived at IHK, they gave her simple first aid but couldn’t admit her into the intensive care unit because they needed a payment of Shs5m, I told them I had Shs1m and Mubaraka Kawooya (the father of one of her two children) also had Shs1m. We pleaded with them to attend to her as we sourced the rest of the money, as Dr. Besigye had promised to help with the bill, but they turned a deaf ear and said they had to be paid first,” Lukoda said.
“They even suggested that we take her back to Mulago, saying that they wouldn’t charge us for the ambulance,” he added.
“I called Dr. Kiiza Besigye (the former FDC president) so that he could explain that he was bringing the balance but was still out of town. The attendants told us that even if it was Museveni who had called, all they wanted was money to treat the patient,” Lukoda told shocked mourners.
“Dr. Kiiza Besigye had to send someone on boda boda to bring the Shs3m.
Her situation deteriorated and she had to be put on life support. Kampala Mayor Elias Lukwago reached out to Makindye East Chairman Dr Ian Clarke “Busuulwa” who owns the hospital and they were told that life support costs Shs6m per day.
“Dr. Besigye said we had to do our best to save her life, so they put her on life support,” Lukoda said. Unfortunately she passed away two days later.
Kisakye composed Dokitali (Doctor) a song that drummed up support for Dr. Kiiza Besigye in his failed 2011 Presidential election bid.
She will be buried this Monday afternoon in Bunamwaya.