Health director held over theft

Apr 17, 2008

The Katakwi district director of health services, Dr. Thomas Onyige, has been charged with theft of a refrigerator and gas cylinder valued at sh195,000.

By Barbara Among

The Katakwi district director of health services, Dr. Thomas Onyige, has been charged with theft of a refrigerator and gas cylinder valued at sh195,000.

The items were meant for health centres.

“In the guise of sending drugs in fridges from Katakwi to Amuria district health centre, some of the equipment ended up in Onyige’s guest house,” health state minister Richard Nduhura told journalists in Kampala yesterday.

“The refrigerator had beers, sodas and water. This is a serious matter, that people whom we entrust with hospital equipments are the ones stealing them.”

The New Vision has established that Onyige was produced in court last week and released on bail of sh150,000. He is due to reappear in court next week.

Nduhura said theft of drugs was rampant to an extent that some health centres run out of supplies seven days after restocking.
He urged local leaders to help tame the practice.

“Where you have strong district health committees, it is not happening but where they are weak, in seven days you don’t find the drugs.”

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