Ugandan quack doctor arrested in Swaziland
Oct 27, 2014
The police in Swaziland has detained a Ugandan at Mbabane police station for working as a doctor without a valid certificate.
By David Lumu & agencies
The police in Swaziland has detained a Ugandan at Mbabane police station for working as a doctor without a valid certificate.
Richard Mugisha was given a two-year contract by ministry of health officials in Swaziland, but an investigation into his qualifications found the Ugandan wanting.
According to reports from a local publication the Times of Swaziland, Mugisha was arraigned in court on October 24 and charged with fraud.
“Before he was posted to the Mbabane Government Hospital, he was given a provisional registration, while the ministry was still investigating the authenticity of his academic qualifications as per procedure.
Ever since he arrived in the country, Mugisha was staying at Jacana Lodge in Mbabane, where government was also footing his bills. He was given a two-year renewable contract,” the Times of Swaziland reported.
The inconsistences in the way Mugisha practised medicine were noticed by senior doctors at Mbabane hospital.
Speaking to New Vision over the weekend, Dr. Asuman Lukwago, the permanent secretary of the Uganda Ministry of Health, said Mugisha could be a masquerader, adding that more investigation into the matter would be done.
According to the Times of Swaziland, Mugisha said that he holds a bachelor of medicine and surgery from the Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Mugisha is said to have raised suspicion after he prescribed wrong medication for a diabetic patient.
The matter was reported to Dr. Velelephi Okello, the deputy director of health services in Swaziland, who established that the certificates were forged and that the papers belonged to a doctor who is practising in Uganda.