Agago, Uganda | URN | The police in Agago district have arrested two health workers of Kuywee Health Center III in Kuywee sub-county over alleged theft of essential drugs. The suspects are Alice Akidi, the health center in charge and Jane Aguti, a nurse.
Their arrest followed a tip-off by the sub-county chief Thomas Amone to the police on Monday 29, March 2021.
Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema confirmed the arrest of the suspects on Wednesday 31, March 2021.
He says a preliminary investigation indicates that essential drugs estimated to cost 5 Million Shillings were stolen from the health facility.
Okema applauded the public and the sub-county chairperson of Kuywee for alerting the police over the alleged theft of the drugs.
But the acting District Health Officer Hellen Drajea says that the drugs were stolen by unknown thieves who broke into the health facility. She notes that the health facility is the fourth in the district that has been broken into by thieves who made away with drugs worth millions of shillings in the past months.
Drajea says although the police have picked the health workers for investigation, the drug thefts are being orchestrated by unknown people.
She says the move is depriving the community members of essential drugs amid an already drug shortage.
The suspects are being held at Kalongo police station.
A case of theft of drugs has been registered at the police station under reference 15/30/03/2021.
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This is the second time in one month that health workers in lower health facilities in the district have been arrested over alleged drug theft.
Early this month, the in-charge of Geregere health center II, along with the in-charge of drug stores and the watchman were arrested over alleged theft of government drugs.
The stolen items included 100 HIV test kits, ten tins of Amoxil capsule, three tins of Flagyl, and 81 boxes of facemasks. Others are 41 malaria RTD kits, 32 boxes of Artemeter 20mg and Lumetuntrin 120mg.
