Mulago Hospital approves policy to curb extortion — ED Byanyima

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Mulago National Referral Hospital has approved a position paper for implementation in a move aimed at curbing the reported extortion of patients by medics.

The hospital’s executive director, Dr Rosemary Byanyima, disclosed this on Thursday (April 9) during an interface with the Parliament's Committee on Health.

The engagement, which was chaired by Rukungiri Municipality MP Dr Erisa Rutahigwa, was anchored on the facility’s Ministerial Policy Statement for the 2026/2027 financial year.

According to Byanyima, some of the measures include expanding closed-circuit television (CCTV) coverage, opening a patient affairs desk, and increasing signage.

“We also insist that all our staff wear their uniforms and their badges. So, we procured a machine for making identity cards within the hospital so that this is expedited,” he told legislators.

“All suspects of extortion cases, if they are staff, are forwarded to the rewards and sanctions committee. But these are criminal offences, we also open Police files. We also have external people who come as impostors."

For the latter category, Byanyima said they take their photos and pin them on large notice boards so that people avoid falling in their traps.

“We need to have another display in Upper Mulago because our campus is very big. We still work hand in hand with Police to handle those impostors."

Late last month, Police arrested a one Penina Atieno for masquerading as a doctor.

The suspect, who was known to have been a hawker, was arrested in the acute children’s emergency unit posing as “Dr Atieno”, complete with a stethoscope around her neck and white gown.

She was transferred to Wandegeya Police Station for further investigation.

Before her arrest, a one Ivan Kamya was arrested while reportedly trying to solicit an illegal sh10,000 “consultation fee” from a patient.