Health Ministry speak out against defamation of PS Dr. Diana Atwine

The ministry of health has decried social media blogs and online publications that attack and defame officials at the Ministry during this period of the COVID-19 pandemic, with fake news, rumors and allegations without any factual basis, intending to taint the image of individual officers within the Ministry and derail the COVID-19 response.

According to Emmanuel Ainebyoona the Ministry spokesperson, the fake articles and posts have been published by faceless authors on numerous online sites like Opera News, Ekyooto, and other online platforms, aimed at tarnishing the reputation of various senior officials at the helm of the COVID-19 response in the Ministry.

“One such example is Opera News publishing a fake story titled: “Atwine apartments near completion.” This story was filled with false and bascless allegations to taint the image of the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwine. The same fabricated article further alleged that the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine connived with the Ministry of Health Spokesperson “Dr” Emmanuel Ainebyoona to launder funds meant to be paid as allowances to health workers involved in the COVID-19 fight” Ainebyoona said.

He clarified that all the above allegations are false and should be treated with the contempt they deserve. Adding that Dr Atwine doesn’t own, neither is she constructing any apartments and that Health workers’ allowances are paid by the Ministry of Health as and when funds are made available by the Ministry of Finance.

“Therefore, we challenge the authors of this fake news to provide proof to any competent anti-corruption agency for investigations.”