12 arrested over theft of govt drugs

Dec 30, 2009

TWELVE health workers in Soroti district were on Tuesday arrested over theft of Government drugs. The arrests were carried out during a joint operation by the Police and internal security agencies.

By Henry Atol in Soroti

TWELVE health workers in Soroti district were on Tuesday arrested over theft of Government drugs. The arrests were carried out during a joint operation by the Police and internal security agencies.

The mid-eastern police spokesman, Juma Nyene, said they had got several complaints from the public about the sale of government drugs.

“We sent our detectives to the clinics and drug shops to investigate and this led us to the operation,” Nyene said.
The suspects reportedly gave information indicating that they get the drugs from the Government health units.

Nyene identified those arrested as William Etolu, a clinical officer in charge of Apapai health centre IV and his wife, Lydia Abonyo, in charge of Morungatuny health centre III. Both were picked up from their private Willy’s Drug shop in Pamba ward in Soroti municipality.

Others arrested were Beatrice Adongo, a clinical officer, Susan Ipoot, a health worker, John Joseph Ebitu, a registered nurse, Ibrahim Oboi, a driver who owns a drug shop, Brian Aseu, a records assistant and Valentine Aculet, a lab technician in a community-based AIDS organisation in Tororo district.

Nyene said the suspects were arrested from their clinics and drug shops.
“The suspects may face charges of being in possession of stolen drugs and operating drug shops without a valid trading licence.”

He explained that those working in government units could be charged with theft of government drugs.
Nyene appealed to the public to give information regarding the sale of government labelled drugs.

He expressed concern that the drug shops which the Police raided had no trading licences and most of their workers were not trained.

“This operation will continue in all the districts to crack down on theft of drugs meant for the patients in government health units free of charge,” Nyene said.

The Police chief also expressed shock that they had found used condoms in some of the drug shops and clinics.
Over the past few months, the Government has mounted an operation to check the theft of its drugs.

Investigations have revealed that stolen drugs and health equipment worth millions of shillings have found their way to clinics in Kenya.

Investigators also found some drugs with labels of the Kenyan government in private clinics in Kampala.

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