One of the diseases that ended the life of former Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo has been linked to poisoning. Also a former Justice Forum (Jeema) leader and vocal Museveni government critic, Kyanjo’s health woes began in 2011. He had served five years in the 8th Parliament where he shone for his sharp submissions and arguments that mostly exposed the Museveni administration.
But when he was reelected to serve in the 9th Parliament, Kyanjo found a lot of trouble with his health. A heated debate on oil bribery claims had happened in Parliament and Kyanjo was one of the vocal legislators on his matter.
In an interview that he would later give after he was diagnosed with a strange disease, Kyanjo revealed that he discovered that he had some trouble speaking while on a trip to South Africa. In 2011, he had travelled with colleagues such as then Kumi Municipality MP Patrick Oboi Amuriat – now the embattled FDC President – to South Africa on a parliamentary assignment.
It was on the second day on this trip that he noticed something wrong with his tongue and speech. His initial thought was that it was due to the fact that he had a few missing teeth. He hoped the problem was minor and would be fixed by doctors.
He decided to fly to Dubai for a diagnosis in a hospital owned by an Iranian. Here he was diagnosed with dystopia, a rare but complicated disease whose treatment and management are troublesome.
The doctors told him the disease is linked to three factors: family history of the same, accidents and poisoning. Kyanjo ruled out the first two, sticking to the third one as the possible cause. He believed he could have been poisoned in Kampala but was not sure who had poisoned him, where the poisoning happened and who was behind it.
In a 2014 interview with Daily Monitor, Kyanjo admitted that friends and supporters had warned him to be careful given the way he was so vocal. They were worried someone might want to harm him.
Meanwhile, in the Dubai hospital, Kyanjo was referred to the UK. With the help of Uganda’s Parliament, he was treated at the University of London Hospital. He would be on the plane every three months, flying for checkups and more treatment. The treatment included injections in the lower jaws.
In April 2022, there was fundraiser with the target of Shs105m for Kyanjo’s cancer treatment.
Kyanjo died today, July 22, 2023, in Kampala.
You can read more about reports of poisoning among top politicians Here and There.
(For advertising, sponsored content or story tips, send us a Whatsapp message on +256 705 690 819 or E-mail us on pearltimesug@gmail.com).
