Police in Kayunga have arrested five people for stealing government drugs from Bbale Health Center IV in Kayunga district.

This arrest happened on July 31, 2024, at Bbale Health Centre IV in Bbale Sub County in Kayunga district, and the suspects include two doctors, two security guards, and a buyer.

The two doctors have been identified as  Annet Namulondo and Rosette Nakitto, two security guards identified as Sam Sankara and Steven Ssozi, and a buyer named Emmanuel Magolo.

According to the Divisional Police Commander of Kayunga District, Rosette Sikahwa, the five suspects were arrested after one of the security guards, Sankara, was caught by the hospital in-charge, who later disclosed he had accomplices.

Sikahwa revealed that ten boxes of anti-malaria drugs from Coartem were stolen from the drug store of Bbale Health Centre IV and were sold to Magolo.

She added that Sankara said that the two doctors, Nakitto and Namulondo, gave him the keys to the hospital drug store where the drugs were being kept. However, the doctors’ denial.

‘’We have three suspects in jail, while two others are on bond. However, investigations are going on, and once they are finished, the real culprits will be charged in court,’’ stated Sikahwa.

She added that the suspects are all going to be charged differently, like negligence of duty, operation of a drugstore illegally, and possession of government drug stores; however, once found guilty, they will be taken to court.

Nakitto and Namulondo denied being Sankara’s accomplices and alleged that he had keys to the main drug store and dispensary.

‘’Sankara was caught with stolen mattresses, liquid soap, and testing kits and has many written apologies with the hospital in-charge, so all this shows his guilt,’’ said the two doctors.

Sikahwa urged doctors to remain professional and focus on treating the sick instead of stealing medications intended to cure patients.