Fallen Moroto Woman MP was supporting 101 students

Fallen Moroto Woman MP Annie Logiel has been described as a distinguished and compassionate person, who was paying school fees for more than 100 students.

Logiel died in Denmark  about two weeks ago. At the time of her death, Logiel was supporting 101 students in her community through a bursary scheme she established in Moroto. Among these are; her two biological children, 12 relatives and 87 community members who were at different levels of education.

Of these, eight were pursuing degree programmes, 20 were on diploma courses, 16 studying for certificates. There were also 10 students at A-level, 41 at O-level, four in primary schools and one at nursery level.

The first-term legislator succumbed to a brain tumour after undergoing surgery in Copenhagen, Denmark. According to prime minister Ruhakana Rugunda, in 2004 while studying in Denmark, Logiel experienced a vision loss. A subsequent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan identified a brain tumour, for which she underwent surgery and a tumour was successfully removed.

However, in 2016, the MP started complaining of severe headache and loss of her vision again. Rugunda says that Logiel visited the Uganda Cancer Institute on November 2, 2016 where another MRI scan was conducted and revealed a relapse of a brain tumour.

On January 18, 2017, Logiel left for Denmark and underwent a second surgery but felt headache and collapsed after 10 days. She was then readmitted in a health facility where she died.

Rugunda says that the fallen legislator had a deep passion in improving health services in Uganda and Karamoja in particular.

“Honourable Logiel’s credentials are a solid foundation for her role as the vice chairperson of the health committee and member of the HIV/Aids committee in this parliament. Honourable speaker, Honourable Logiel has been supporting a number of children from her community at any education [level] through a bursary scheme she personally established. She has clearly been a leading light in Moroto in Karamoja and the country. Her services and contributions will be greatly missed”, said Rugunda.

Winnie Kiiza, the leader of opposition in parliament described Logiel as an eager learner,  and a polite but focused person. Kizza also noted that Logiel believed in quality health for all Ugandans.
 
“Being a health worker, she believed in quality health for all children. I would pray that, as we pay tribute to Annie, we reconsider our health systems. It is true we have so many health centres but majority of them are ill equipped. Let this moment bring us to the reality that better healthcare is critical for a healthy nation. And, as we put up health centres, we should ensure that the ones we have are already fully equipped, workers are well paid. Where Annie belonged she called for better service for the nation”, said Kiiza.

John Byabagambi, the Karamoja affairs minister applauded the Late Logiel for resorting to work in the sub-region after school, criticizing educated Karimojong for shunning their home land. He said that Logiel had a very unique character that enabled her to return home and dedicate her life to the service of Karamoja.
 
Budadiri West MP Nathan Nandala Mafabi challenged MPs to advocate for the increase in the health budget rather than flying abroad when they fall sick. Speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga described the late as a courageous and dignified legislator.

“Early this year she walked into my office saying ‘I have come to brief you officially about my health situation’. She told me about the operation many years ago, the recovery but now the reoccurrence [of the tumour]. She was very composed, very dignified, very courageous and I think by the time we separated both of us knew that things could go either way. I think she knew that things could go either. So I want to salute her for her courage”.
 
Logiel was born on March  27, 1968. Before joining parliament, Logiel was the executive director for Karamoja Indigenous and Modern Health project from 2008 to 2016. She also served as a senior nursing officer, Moroto regional referral hospital between 2006 and 2008.
 
Logiel has been the vice chairperson of parliament’s health committee and a member of the HIV/Aids committee in parliament. She is survived by a husband Eric Joe Logiel and two children.

She will be laid to rest at her ancestral home in Nakapelimen village, Nadunget subcounty, approximately 10km from Moroto town, along Moroto-Soroti road on Sunday.