Doctors arrested over drugs theft
Dec 09, 2009
TWO doctors, one of them attached to the health ministry headquarters, have been detained over accusations of theft of drugs and Government funds. Dr. Joseph Isanga, the health official in charge of Dodoth sub-district, was nabbed on Saturday in Kaabong d
By Herbert Ssempogo and Olandason Wanyama
TWO doctors, one of them attached to the health ministry headquarters, have been detained over accusations of theft of drugs and Government funds.
Dr. Joseph Isanga, the health official in charge of Dodoth sub-district, was nabbed on Saturday in Kaabong district. He is accused of diverting drugs worth sh20m.
Dr. Isanga, attached to Kaabong Health centre IV and in charge of eight other health centre III establishments, was arrested by a security team formed under a presidential directive to investigate drugs theft.
Regional Police boss Okot Obwona yesterday reported that Isanga travelled to Kampala in September and withdrew an unspecified amount of money from the Kaabong district health account.
According to Obwona, the Police are investigating the whereabouts of drugs worth sh12m meant for Dodoth which Isanga picked from the General Medical Stores but were never delivered.
In addition, Isanga is said to have collected drugs worth sh9m on September 13 and 23 meant for Karenga Health Centre III. The medicines allegedly never reached their destination.
“After numerous complaints from patients about drug shortages, I got concerned and started investigating the matter. It dawned on me that health centers had not had drugs for the last two months,†said Bob Okello, the Kaabong district security chief.
Kaabong district is currently hit by a Hepatitis E epidemic with 210 patients admitted in the main health centre. A total of 12 people have died of the disease.
In a separate case, Dr. Sam Kamba Baleke, a senior health planner at the ministry, was arrested for diverting sh50m for research.
Baleke was picked yesterday from the ministry head office in Kampala and led to the Central Police Station where he was paraded before the press.
At an impromptu press conference, Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba announced that investigations over abuse of office and embezzlement were underway.
The money was meant to gather health data for the annual health sector performance review 2008/2009.
“Investigators discovered that Dr. Baleke did not conduct the survey. When his report was issued in November, it had data used in previous reports,†said Nabakooba.
She explained that the review gives the progress of the health sector in a given year and forms the basis for targets for the following year.
Several employees at the ministry have since been questioned in connection with the money, she added.
Pontiano Jjumba, an official in the health sector who attended the press conference, said Baleke received the money to sample several parts of the country.
The suspect, who neither denied nor confirmed the allegation, told journalists that he was advised to assist the Police in the investigation.
“I got clearance from the permanent secretary who told me to cooperate with the Police. I will cooperate,†Baleke stated.
TWO doctors, one of them attached to the health ministry headquarters, have been detained over accusations of theft of drugs and Government funds.
Dr. Joseph Isanga, the health official in charge of Dodoth sub-district, was nabbed on Saturday in Kaabong district. He is accused of diverting drugs worth sh20m.
Dr. Isanga, attached to Kaabong Health centre IV and in charge of eight other health centre III establishments, was arrested by a security team formed under a presidential directive to investigate drugs theft.
Regional Police boss Okot Obwona yesterday reported that Isanga travelled to Kampala in September and withdrew an unspecified amount of money from the Kaabong district health account.
According to Obwona, the Police are investigating the whereabouts of drugs worth sh12m meant for Dodoth which Isanga picked from the General Medical Stores but were never delivered.
In addition, Isanga is said to have collected drugs worth sh9m on September 13 and 23 meant for Karenga Health Centre III. The medicines allegedly never reached their destination.
“After numerous complaints from patients about drug shortages, I got concerned and started investigating the matter. It dawned on me that health centers had not had drugs for the last two months,†said Bob Okello, the Kaabong district security chief.
Kaabong district is currently hit by a Hepatitis E epidemic with 210 patients admitted in the main health centre. A total of 12 people have died of the disease.
In a separate case, Dr. Sam Kamba Baleke, a senior health planner at the ministry, was arrested for diverting sh50m for research.
Baleke was picked yesterday from the ministry head office in Kampala and led to the Central Police Station where he was paraded before the press.
At an impromptu press conference, Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba announced that investigations over abuse of office and embezzlement were underway.
The money was meant to gather health data for the annual health sector performance review 2008/2009.
“Investigators discovered that Dr. Baleke did not conduct the survey. When his report was issued in November, it had data used in previous reports,†said Nabakooba.
She explained that the review gives the progress of the health sector in a given year and forms the basis for targets for the following year.
Several employees at the ministry have since been questioned in connection with the money, she added.
Pontiano Jjumba, an official in the health sector who attended the press conference, said Baleke received the money to sample several parts of the country.
The suspect, who neither denied nor confirmed the allegation, told journalists that he was advised to assist the Police in the investigation.
“I got clearance from the permanent secretary who told me to cooperate with the Police. I will cooperate,†Baleke stated.