As health issues at the emergency room at Mbarara Hospital worsen, a friend wrote a sad open letter to his wife and pastor Kayanja, revealing the latter’s role in Dr. Barigye’s illness

If you have any charity in your heart, I write you a painful letter regarding your long-term illness, Dr. Celestine Barigye (Director, Nbarara Regional Referral Hospital). I am only a human being, not a superman, and I ask in advance for your forgiveness for any mistakes I may make.

Growing up, I was inspired by your sermons, which restored hope to the hopeless and empowered followers to make righteous choices.

However, I am angry and disappointed with your actions towards the Executive Director of Mbarara Hospital. I feel sad because I consider him as my father and mentor as he guided us during our medical studies until he supervised us at the hospital.

A man who rose to fame overnight from humble beginnings underwent successful brain tumour surgery at the Mulago National Referral Hospital. Yet you allegedly deceived his wife, your pastor Ruth Bilongi, and sneaked him into your miracle centre after paying a huge fee. This is unacceptable.

We doctors know that we treat, God heals. Your actions, in addition to disparaging the physician’s diagnosis and prescriptions by saying “his illness is spiritual,” are causing harm and confusion.

This is not only unprofessional, it is irresponsible. Ironically, church leaders were quick to get on the wrong side of this. We are not denying the role you played in treating this patient. For those of us in the medical profession, we know that strong antibiotics alone will not cure this patient without treating the heart.

Furthermore, you sent a group of priests to Mbarara who prayed for the woman and mentioned what they wanted. This is abuse of power and manipulation. Our friend the hospital director is disturbed by what happened and asks you to reconsider your intentions and allow the government to take him to the hospital.

Furthermore, we are shocked that instead of advising them to go abroad for treatment, you blatantly told them that they were going on their honeymoon, as testified by the wives of your church.

Furthermore, your silence in the media regarding these allegations is appalling and your failure to act to help Dr. Barija and his family is unacceptable. Instead, his wife has been asking the church for prayer funds, which is exploitation and abuse of power.

What do you want? I thought if you wanted money, you would encourage patients to adhere to our prescriptions and regular checkups to regain their health and testify for you, rather than misleading them to the point of losing their lives.

What benefit would you gain if he was fired because you told his wife not to cooperate with the government and take them to the hospital on their own?

Put yourself in the shoes of Reverend Kayanja, the director. How would you feel if you were in his situation and your lovely wife, Reverend Jessica Kayanja, refused to take you to the hospital? Wouldn’t it be reasonable to prioritize medical attention over spiritual intervention?

We ask you to take responsibility for your actions and prioritize the well-being of those under your care. We also call on Pastor Jessica Kayanja to come forward and either explain the matter or widely exhort Pastor Ruth Bilongi to immediately allow the government to send Dr. Barije to hospital.

As things stand, Reverend Ruth Birungi is no longer able to provide medical expertise and it is time to seek professional help.

What kind of disillusionment is this, that the government won’t let us bring our own doctors to the hospital because your pastor lied to you and said it was witchcraft?

We doctors and our friends should not stand by while you continue to exploit and harm innocent people. We demand justice and accountability for your actions. What will you tell us in the future? Now is the time to apologize and allow the government to do the right thing. As one British man said, we will continue to express ourselves with the pen because the sword has failed. Look at how you are destroying our integrity and that of our fellow doctors.

Regardless of the consequences, we will continue to cry until the responsible parties take action to ensure that our own selfless doctor is treated. We firmly believe that God still wants him to serve his country.

The author claims to be the dean’s former medical student, friend, and believer, as well as a doctor at the hospital.