[UAH] Bidandi taken to intensive care unit after accident

The People's Progressive Party president, Mr Jaberi Bidandi Ssali, was on Saturday night taken to Nakasero Hospital's intensive care unit following an accident at the Northern By-pass.

The life of the ageing politician was out of danger by last evening, according to his party. Though the medical staff at Nakasero Hospital where Mr Ssali is admitted declined to discuss his condition, the party spokesperson, Mr Saddam Gayira, said "he is still in the ICU. His head is swollen but doctors have confirmed that he has no internal bleeding, no fractures but they have given him bed rest. Visitors are not allowed to visit him."

The accident, involving a Toyota Premio which Mr Ssali was driving, and a Fuso truck, occurred at 8pm.

It is said Mr Ssali was trying to dodge traffic jam in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb. According to Mr Gayira, Mr Ssali lost control of the car about 200 metres after the Ntinda-Kisaasi roundabout before ramming into the Fuso truck head-on.

"I do not know what caused the loss of control. We would have died on the spot had it not been for the airbags in the vehicle," Mr Gayira said on telephone.

"But what I remember is that after the accident, he was rushed to the intensive care unit at Mulago hospital in bad shape, before being transferred to Nakasero Hospital ICU. But I hear he is out of danger but still in the intensive care-unit."

The Saturday accident is the fourth Mr Ssali is getting involved in ever since he left the position of Local Government minister. In 2008, he was involved in an accident in his official government vehicle as Local Government minister at Lumumba Avenue in Wandegeya.
In 2010, he was again involved in another accident in Arua while in a Toyota Surf and in 2011 in Adjumani while campaigning during presidential elections. The land cruiser he was using as his official vehicle from the Electoral Commission hit a child who died on the spot.

Last year, Mr Ssali collapsed in his house and he was admitted to the intensive Care unit of Kampala International Hospital before being referred to a hospital in Thailand following reports that he had lost his balancing system in the ear canal where he spent close to three months undergoing treatment.

sotage@ug.nationmedia.com

--
UAH forum is devoted to matters of interest to Ugandans and Africans in general. Individuals are responsible for whatever they post on this forum.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or Abbey Semuwemba at: abbeysemuwemba@gmail.com.