Gulu district speaker,Okello Douglas Peter, has issued a stanch warning to people and organisations visiting areas with those suffering from the nodding disease and taking pictures of victims without their clear intentions or explanations to district authorities. 

He urged local leaders in those areas to put a stop to such activity immediately and alert the police because it has come to the district knowledge that many people are engaged in making profit under the disguise of being a charity organisation helping victims of nodding disease. However, the money does not reach the victims. He vowed that if he identified such a person or organization acting in such a manner, that they will be dealt with very harshly. 

“I want people to get me very well, yes we need charity for the nodding patients but the right channel should be followed not persons or individuals ganging up taking pictures and at the end of the day for themselves not the patients,” he said. 

He said that Gulu district local government has opened doors for anybody who is genuinely coming to help victims, but they must go through them and not directly to the patients. 

The speaker’s comments came after police confirmed the detention of an individual who had been arrested distributing traditional drugs to nodding victims in Aromowanglobo Primary School in Odek Sub County, Omoro county Gulu district.