By KT Reporter
The National Drug Authority (NDA) has conducted a special operation and arrested three health workers who were involved in the theft of government drugs and these include;
Odoi John, a Health Assistant at Kifamba HC III in Rakai District who was arrested while delivering government drug including ARVs, antimalarials, hepatitis medicines, HIV self-test kits, malaria diagnostic kits, cannulas, and examination gloves to his private drug shop, Devine Mercy Drug Shop, in Sanje Town Council, Kyotera District
Nakuya Jackie, an Enrolled Nurse working with Kiwangala HC IV in Lwengo District and managing a Private Not for Profit (PNFP) facility under the church at Kitoro HC II in Kyazanga, Lwengo District. She was found with a sack of government drugs hidden in her boutique in Masaka City. The recovered items included surgical devices, mama kits, surgical gloves, and classified medicines.
Julius Babalanda Kabuure, a medical clinical Officer at Kyazanga Health Centre IV in Lwengo District, who was found in possession of government diagnostic devices Mosquito nets and classified drugs among others at his private facility, St Theresa Medical Clinic located in Bukoto Kyazanga Lwengo District.
Since 2019, NDA under the directive of the Minister of Health has been tracking and breaking down rackets of dealers involved in the theft of government drugs and medical supplies, leading to the recovery of medicine worth over thirteen billion Uganda shillings.
For the last six years, over fifty-four arrests have been made. Those arrested included health workers (36) and their accomplices, including a senior police officer in Kyenjojo, AIP Kule Yusuf Katuramu, who also doubled as a health officer working with Kyenjojo Police Health Centre II, Mary Mbabazi, a nursing assistant who was also acting as the stores in-charge for Bweramule Health Centre III and Kalungi Harriet enrolled nurse who was also a stores’ in-charge at Nakawuka Health Centre III, among others.
The suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged;
1.Unlawful possession of government stores, contrary to Section 296(2) of the Penal Code Act, Cap 128.
2.Unlawful possession of classified drugs, contrary to Section 27(2) of the National Drug Policy and Authority Act, Cap 206.
NDA calls upon the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected drug- related cases to our offices as work towards breaking the cartels of drug thefts and to report any suspected drug-related crimes via our toll-free line 0800 101 999 or WhatsApp line 0740 002 070.
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