KAMPALA – The Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala issued an interim order on Tuesday, staying the suspension of Dr Samuel Oledo as the president of the Uganda Medical Association -UMA. The injunction stems from an application, for a judicial review filed by Oledo against his suspension by the UMA extraordinary assembly held on Sunday.
UMA members on Sunday, voted to suspend the embattled Dr Oledo for four years, replacing him with Dr Edith Nakku Joloba.
Oledo was on the spot for leading a group of intern doctors to publicly endorse President Yoweri Museveni who has been in power for nearly 40 decades to run for another term of office come 2026. The infamous Oledo endorsement took place at the National Resistance Movement – NRM Party Youth Symposium held at the Kololo Ceremonial grounds, about two weeks ago.
Oledo, together with the medical interns, fully dressed in their clinical coats, knelt to beg president Museveni to contest in the next general elections. His actions triggered concern amongst health professionals and the public drawing wide condemnation.
Following the incident, members of the association led by Dr Ronald Kazibwe started collecting signatures for a petition to allow them to call for an extraordinary general meeting to discuss the matter as per the association constitution.
On Sunday, 98 per cent of the doctors who attended an Extraordinary General Meeting agreed that Oledo had breached Articles Three and Seven of the association constitution, voting to remove the doctor from office as president, in addition to suspending from membership for four years.
Dr Herbert Luswata – the association General Secretary confirmed that the decisions was reached during the Sunday General Meeting (today,) promising that a detailed statement would be delivered during a press conference to be held on Monday morning.
Nakku becomes the second female leader of the doctors’ body, which had the late Margaret Mungherera as the first lady leader of the association. If today’s decisions remain unchanged, Nakku will be at the helm of the association for the next year since a full term is two years.
Meanwhile, while Dr Oledo was unreachable for comment but had on Friday sought court intervention to stop the process of booting him. This case is scheduled for a hearing tomorrow, Monday.
Additional reporting by URN
