Members of the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) National Executive Committee, National Governing Council and Elders Forum have unanimously asked Dr Sam Oledo who the group president to step aside as investigations into his conduct take center stage.
“The UMA president will step aside immediately to allow an independent investigation by the ethics and professionalism committee. The UMA Ethics and professionalism committee will report back to UMA NEC within 5 working days,” the letter read in part.
According to the document seen by News 24/7, this position was arrived at following multiple consultative meetings by the association top stakeholders to access what needs to be done for the prolific medical officer.
In an exclusive interview this afternoon, Dr Oledo said there is no such a provision as stepping down as president saying that he was elected by doctors who knew that he belonged to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“This was a suggestion which can be allowed or rejected.I will not step aside…they can continue with their investigations. I knelt last year asking for the money of doctors to be stepped up and it was, what is wrong with kneeling down to thank the fountain of honor?” Dr Oledo said.
On December 3, 2022, Dr Oledo knelt for President Museveni thanking him for prioritizing the doctors and listening to their plight. This was received with an uproar within the public questioning the doctor’s ethics of not participating in partisan politics.
Dr Oledo told this publication that, “The non-partisanship only applies when I am rendering a service which wasnt the case at that time. You cannot separate political party elections from party inclinations because for me to become president of UMA, I beat a National Unit Platform (NUP) candidate.”
The members indicated that the vice president is the acting president of the association in that period UMA ethics, professional committee together with a lawyer from Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) will investigate this matter of the conduct of the UMA President with respect to the association and report to the NEC.
The other resolution members came up with is “The UMA NEC will call for an extra ordinary general meeting responding to the petition from members with in the period of 21days as per the constitution,” UMA NEC treads.
Mr Oledo contested against the late Speaker of Parliament Jacob Olanya for the position of vice chairman Northern region, he also recently vied to represent Uganda in the East African Legislative Assembly on the NRM ticket.
