pressug.com News 24 7
Related Articles
Business mogul Hassan Basajjabalaba has revealed he spent a jaw-dropping USD 6million ( about Sh20 billion) on medical treatment for his late 86-year-old mother, Hajjati Azida Basajjabalaba, as he renewed calls for Uganda to urgently introduce a National Health Insurance Scheme.
Speaking emotionally at her burial in Katungu, Ishaka–Bushenyi on Sunday, Basajjabalaba said he made over 20 international medical trips in a desperate attempt to save her life—10 to Germany, 5 to the UK, and 5 to South Africa—with each costing not less than €220,000 (about Sh1bn). On total he spent USD 6million (about Sh20bn) to save his mother’s life.
“When you add up all that money, it is roughly 6 million dollars. You see that a common man cannot afford it,” he said.
The businessman said he was even prepared to pay €2 million (Sh10bn) for a donor heart in Germany, but doctors rejected the offer, citing strict transplant laws and age limits that disqualify patients above 80.
“I told them I can pay one million euros… even two million. The professor asked: You can pay €2m for an 86-year-old? I said yes,” he narrated.
Bassajabalaba noted that if Uganda had a health insurance system, he would have spent only 40% of what he poured into the medical battle.
Addressing mourners—led by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, representing President Museveni—the NRM CEC member blasted Parliament for prioritising political fights like tojikwatako instead of passing a health insurance law.
“Instead of fighting for tojikwatako, we should be fighting over this,” the orphan who lost his father in the 1990s, said.
Tojikwatako is a reference to the controversial amendment in the Ugandan Constitution in 2017 that expunged the clause barring persons beyond 75 from contesting for the presidency.
He was very close to his mother for who he spared no effort, at most times travelling with her despite his busy schedule.
This was not the first time that he was addressing the matter. He raised it in August during the burial of his political ally, former minister and Woman MP of Bushenyi, the late Mary Karooro Okurut. He has also raised it in 2023 at the burial of Karooro’s niece, Dr. Angella Karooro.
The tycoon, who also owns Kampala International University (KIU) with an affiliate teaching hospital in Ishaka, lamented that Uganda has not taken up the medical insurance scheme like it is the case in the neighboring countries like Tanzania where every age bracket has its medical insurance package.
He said the money that government is investing in running public hospitals where he said there is a lot of inefficiency should instead be redirected to supporting private facilities, naming the religious-founded hospitals of Catholics (Nsambya), Protestants (Mengo) and Muslims (Kibuli).
“Majority of the best performing hospitals across the world are private run because governments cannot manage and run the hospitals,” he said.
He explained that adopting medical insurance would attract private investors put up modern facilities.
In his response, Tayebwa agreed with Basajjabalaba:
“Yes, we have delayed the issue of medical insurance but you (Hassan) now have the platform and we will talk about it.” (Referring to Basajjabalaba’s recent election to the NRM CEC representing enterpreneurs).
“I also concur with you on government partnering with the private sector,” the speaker added.
He tasked the ministry of health to begin the process of drafting medical insurance and present it to parliament.
In his message, President Museveni saluted Azida for her contributions towards development and raising responsible children like Hassan and others who have greatly contributed to the country’s development in different aspects.
Speaker after speaker described Azida as a hardworking and prayerful woman.
“As children, we are in extreme pain. She gave us a firm foundation of religion, taught us to work extremely hard and she would always tell us the importance of having money,” another son, Nasser Bassajjabalaba, the former Bushenyi/Ishaka Municipality MP, said. “She would bake pancakes and she would give each of us a basket of pancakes to go and vend on streets in Ishaka town.”
Bushenyi LC 5 Chairman, Jafari Bassajjabalaba, also a son in the family, said their mother has been a uniting factor and a pillar in the family.
“I always compare our family to a multiparty system but she has united us,” Jafari said.
According to family sources, the deceased’s health complications date back to 1997 and she had undergone a number of surgeries including those of cancer and managed to live to a ripe age to see her grandchildren and great grandchildren. One of the grandchildren, Idi Basajjabalaba, is contesting for the Ishaka-Bushenyi Municipality MP seat on the NRM ticket.
At the function, Hassan introduced the Bushenyi Woman MP, Annet Katusiime Mugisha, and said he would go village to village campaigning for her as she seeks reelection on the NRM ticket. This marks a mending of fences as the two were previously in rival political camps. This move that has been hailed as a blessing to the memory of Hajjati Azida.
Multitudes of mourners, including big wigs, joined the family in mourning and the burial.
