Surgery death: Kitgum court grants Dr. Okwera bail
In granting bail, the court cautioned Dr. Okwera against interfering with prosecution witnesses.
The case is expected to return to court on December 10, 2026, for further proceedings. (Photo by Christopher Nyeko)
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Kitgum Chief Magistrate Robert Nashiero Mwandha, has granted Dr. Paul Pope Okwera a sh5m cash bail and ordered each of his six sureties to execute a non-cash bond of sh10 million.
Dr. Okwera, a medical doctor attached to Kitgum General Hospital, is facing allegations of conducting surgical operations at his private residence in Gangdyang Cell, Kitgum Municipality, resulting in the death of a 58-year-old woman, Nighty Kibwota.
The prosecution alleges that Dr. Okwera operated on Kibwota at his residence on February 17, 2026, in circumstances that later resulted in complications and ultimately her death.
He was arrested on March 6, 2026, by the State House Health Monitoring Unit, working alongside local security personnel in Kitgum, following allegations that he had been conducting surgical procedures at his residence instead of an authorised medical facility.
During the bail hearing on November 10, 2026, the accused's lawyer, Samuel Openy of Awino Openy Nyafono Company Advocates, presented six sureties whose suitability was not contested by the prosecution.
In granting bail, the court cautioned Dr. Okwera against interfering with prosecution witnesses.
The court also directed the prosecution to disclose the particulars of the alleged offence to the defence team within one month. The matter was subsequently adjourned, with December 10, 2026, set as the next court date.
According to the complaint filed by Rev. Michael Kibwota, his wife (Nighty Kibwota) fell ill in January 2026 and was taken to Puranga Health Centre III, where she was diagnosed with a hernia.
Upon discharge, the medical team reportedly recommended surgery at a government facility.
It is alleged that Rev. Kibwota later consulted the accused, who allegedly directed the couple to his residence, formerly in Gangdyang Cell, Kitgum Municipality.
On February 16, 2026, the complainant and his wife reportedly visited the residence and arranged for the operation to take place the following day. On February 17, Rev. Kibwota allegedly paid sh150,000, after which the surgery was performed in the morning.
Following the operation, the patient was reportedly taken to a room containing two beds within the doctor's residence. However, later that night, she began experiencing abdominal pain, started sweating and vomiting.
On February 19, the patient was reportedly referred to Yot Kom Private Hospital for an X-ray and ultrasound examination. The results were subsequently shared with Dr. Okwera at Kitgum General Hospital. After reviewing them, he allegedly arranged for the patient to undergo another surgical procedure, which was consented to by her husband.
The referral reportedly requested intensive care unit (ICU) monitoring, including monitoring of urea levels, urine output and blood pressure, as well as post-surgical recovery following anastomosis.
At Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Dr. Okwera and another doctor, identified as Dr. Edema Peter, reportedly reviewed the patient. Their findings indicated that she had undergone exploratory surgery and herniorrhaphy, and was presenting with abdominal tenderness and distension.
Further complications and death
On March 5, 2026, the patient reportedly underwent a third surgical operation.
According to the account contained in the complaint, surgeons found the abdominal cavity grossly contaminated with faecal matter due to a failed anastomosis, a surgical connection between two parts of the intestine.
The operating team reportedly performed an ileostomy and peritoneal lavage, closed the distal intestine and brought out the proximal intestine as an end.
The complaint states that Nighty Kibwota later died at 3:00 pm. A postmortem examination was conducted under Police Form 48B. The reported cause of death was septicaemia due to peritonitis following perforation of the gut during a surgical operation.
The case is expected to return to court on December 10, 2026, for further proceedings.