Nursing Assistant Charged With Theft Of Govt Drugs Worth Shs700k

BY ROBERT KAMUKAMA

KAMPALA, Uganda|SHIFTMEDIA| A Nursing Assistant attached to Bufunda Health Center III in Ibanda has been charged with theft of government drugs. Nuuhu Kazibwe appeared before the Anti Corruption Court.

Nuuhu Kazibwe was arrested by detectives attached to the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) following a tip off from concerned residents in Bufunda. He was charged with Abuse of Office contrary to Section 11 of the AntiCorruption Act, 2009 and Theft contrary to Section 254 (1) and 261 of the Penal Code Act CAP 120.

According to the Charge Sheet, Nuuhu Kazibwe, on or about the 2nd June 2020 at Bufunda Health Center III, Ibanda Municipal Council stole government of Uganda drugs worth UGX 700,000 the property of the Government of Uganda.

Appearing before His Worship Moses Nabende of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court, Nuuhu Kazibwe pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a fine of Ugx 2 million or a two-year jail sentence if he fails to pay the fine. He paid the fine.

Kazibwe was convicted for theft of Government Drugs by His Worship Moses Nabende of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court.

Similarly, regarding charges of abuse of office, as a Nursing Assistant, Kazibwe arbitrarily converted to private gain at his clinic at Kankyende village, Government of Uganda drugs entrusted in his care which, act was prejudicial to the interests of the Government of Uganda. On Count Two, he was sentenced to six months imprisonment without the option of the fine.
State Prosecutor, Okoth Thomas was satisfied with the ruling saying it would serve as a deterrent to other would-be offenders.

Drug Theft elsewhere

Early this year police in Tororo arrested 3 suspects in connection with the alleged theft of drugs from Tororo main hospital. The suspects used an ambulance belonging to the hospital under Reg number UG 3701 and transported a box containing 2000 pieces of dexamethasone inject-able drugs under batch number l 0313, which was recovered and exhibited.

 

The suspects include; Obbo Isaac, a store man at Nagongera HC IV, Opuna Dan Peter, a store man at Tororo HC IV, and Ocho Hussein, the driver to the ambulance.

Police have always urged the public to be vigilant and report any thefts of government drugs so as to curb on the practice.