Questions are emerging over the illness affecting Makindye West MP Zahra Maala Luyirika after former NUP Makindye mayoral aspirant John Bosco Lusagala reportedly indicated that he was already aware of her health situation before it became a subject of wider public discussion.
Luyirika’s reported health struggles have attracted concern from relatives, friends, political supporters and residents who have followed her public activities. Reports indicate that she has been in and out of hospital since August, although details about the exact illness have not been publicly disclosed by her family.
Against that background, Lusagala’s alleged comments have added a new and controversial dimension to the discussion.
According to the account circulating about his remarks, Lusagala suggested that Luyirika’s condition was not as serious as some members of the public might believe and accused her of using the situation to attract public sympathy. Such claims, however, remain allegations attributed to Lusagala and should not be treated as established medical facts.
The controversy is particularly notable because Lusagala and Luyirika have previously appeared together in Makindye political activities. During the 2025 nomination period, Lusagala was accompanied by Luyirika when he was nominated as a candidate for Makindye Division mayor. Contemporary reports identified Luyirika as one of the political figures accompanying him during the nomination exercise.
That political association gives the latest alleged remarks added significance, particularly if Lusagala is indeed claiming that he knew about Luyirika’s condition before the public became concerned about her health.
The central question now is whether Lusagala possesses information that contradicts the concerns being expressed by Luyirika’s family, friends and supporters, or whether his comments represent his personal interpretation of the situation.
For now, there is no publicly verified medical information establishing that Luyirika is pretending to be sick. Equally, there is no reliable public evidence confirming Lusagala’s alleged claim that she is deliberately seeking sympathy.
Luyirika’s health remains a private medical matter unless she or her family chooses to disclose further information. The public concern surrounding her condition nevertheless demonstrates the level of attention she continues to command as a political figure in Makindye.
The controversy also comes at a politically sensitive time for Lusagala. The former NUP candidate was among those disqualified from the Makindye mayoral race by the Electoral Commission after disputes surrounding nomination signatures and supporting documents. Lusagala and his lawyer rejected the Commission’s explanation and indicated that they would pursue legal redress.
As debate over Luyirika’s condition grows, any further comments from Lusagala will likely attract considerable attention, particularly if he provides specific information to support his assertion that he knew about the situation before it became public.
