Kawempe Hospital Nurses, Cleaner Remanded Over Drugs Theft

Three nurses of Kawempe Hospital and one cleaner have been remanded to Kigo Maximum prison for theft of government drugs in Kawempe Hospital.  

The suspects who were arrested on Thursday by a team of detectives from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Police.

They appeared in Court on Friday afternoon before Nabweru Grade one court  Magistrate Awechadi Freedi.    

The suspects have been identified as Resty Namulindwa, a 49-year old assistant nursing officer, Eva Nakiwal, a 42-year old nursing officer, and Maria Nasansi, a 42-year old resident of Bulenga and enrolled nurse, together with one cleaner Florence Nabukeera, a 42- year old resident of Maganjo.

Court heard that the accused persons and others still at large on the July 6th, 2021 at Kawempe National Referral Hospital in Kawempe Division stole various assortments  of  drugs and other medical sundries of unspecified amount of money which were property of the Ugandan government.    

The Prosecutor Marcy Yamangusho alleges that both suspects during the month of June and July at the hospital conspired together to commit a felony and theft contrary to section 245(1) and 261 of the penal code act.  

The suspects who pleaded not guilty before the magistrate Freedi Awecwedi were remanded to Kigo Prison until July 13th, 2021.

After their arrest, the Head of State House Anti-Corruption Unit Col. Edith Nakalema vowed to deal with people stealing drugs from government hospitals.

“Our team caused the arrest of these ruthless nurses and cleaners at Kawempe Referral Hospital for selling government drugs. Their greed denies our daughters and sisters safe delivery of babies as mothers.

“I feel pain, but together we can defeat these criminals,” said Nakalema.

When the detectives stormed the hospital, they found the health workers and cleaner in possession of mama kits, assorted drugs, pain killers, cotton wool, syringes and catheters.

Last month, the police recovered government drugs estimated to be worth 1 Billion Shillings at a private clinic in Nansana Municipality Wakiso district.