On 9th November 2017, Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu appeared on NTV’s On the Spot talk show to discuss the issues pertaining the then ongoing doctors’ strike. “The only concern I have there is yes that we really appreciate it but probably we need to look at the schedules.” Said, Dr. Joyce Moriku – State Minister for Primary Health Care. A day later, Dr. Moriku was admitted to Mulago Hospital. According to the State Minister for Health Dr. Sarah Aceng Opendi doctors diagnosed her with food poisoning. “Thereafter she was admitted at Platinum Hospital. And at Platinum at that time we actually thought all was well and she was due to be discharged.” Said, Sarah Opendi – State Minister for Health (General Duties).

Opendi told NTV that Moriku later developed chest complications and had difficulty breathing. “As a result of that, they thought maybe she could be having pneumonia and progressively the situation was getting worse and that’s how she was referred to the International Hospital.” For a week, Dr. Moriku was in Intensive Care. “She is actually closely being supervised by very qualified doctors, senior consultants.” “Can you describe exactly how you saw Joyce and the condition she was in?” “By the time I visited she was indented and it’s really for her comfort because you know being in Intensive Care is not something that is quite pleasing.”

There were plans to fly the former Coordinator of The Aids Support Organization (TASO) to Agha Khan Hospital in Nairobi for further tests and treatment. “We were told that Agha Khan was full and they could not accommodate her. However, this morning just a few minutes ago I have been talking to the doctor who is actually closely coordinating with Agha Khan Hospital and he has assured me that there is one patient that is being discharged, so there is space.”

In order to confirm or eliminate the possibility that Dr. Moriku might have been poisoned, the government sent samples to South Africa for a Toxicology Analysis to establish the problem that continued to immobilize the Minister. The government of Uganda footed the medical bills. Minister Sarah Opendi said there was no need of causing alarm sighting the Ministry was still waiting for Toxicology Report from South Africa which was expected to be coming out in a week.