Hoima, Uganda | URN | Two health workers attached to Butema Health Center III in Buhanika sub-county, Hoima district are in custody at Hoima Central Police Station on allegations of selling genuine COVID-19 vaccination cards to non-vaccinated people.
Police picked up the unnamed suspects on Monday 4, January 2022 afternoon. Police alleges that the suspects connived with a cleaner at Butema health center identified as Ivan Bigirwa to sell COVID-19 vaccination cards to various people in Hoima city and the district.
Bigirwa was arrested red-handed on Sunday 3rd afternoon while selling the cards at Hoima Boma grounds in Hoima city.
Police whisked him to Hoima central police station where he is locked up. Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson, says that police summoned the two health workers to record statements about how the cleaner secured stamped COVID-19 vaccination cards from the health facility without their consent.
According to Hakiza, preliminary police investigations indicate that the health workers connived with the cleaner to sell the cards at between Shs 50,000 and Shs 100,000 each. Hakiza says they are currently hunting for other staff attached to the same health facility who were summoned to record statements in vain.
According to Hakiza, they are also investigating other staff at Hoima Regional Referral hospital believed to be part of the racket.
