A private clinic in Nansana Wakiso district was yesterday found in possession of stolen drugs with National Medical Stores, USAID and Government of Uganda labels suspected to be worth Shs 1bn.
According to the Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire , the Police at Nansana yesterday 17th/06/21 was tipped off by locals about vehicles seen ferrying suspected stolen drugs which prompted an operation at Brocch medical services at around 5pm.
The police led by the OC CID Nansana responded and they were able to recover drugs on a parked tipper truck,”Owoyesigyire said.
At the scene, several drugs labeled Joint Medical Stores Nsambya, USAID and others marked “government of Uganda not for sale” were recovered.
Quoting the Health Monitoring Unit officials, Owoyesigyire said the drugs recovered are suspected to be worth shs1 billion.
He noted that Patient Kilenzi, a nurse at the clinic was arrested whereas a motor vehicle registration number was impounded and that both are currently detained at Nansana Police Station as investigations continue.
“The police have left the clinic under guard as we wait for officials from National Drug Authority to help into the investigations of the origin of the drugs recovered at a private facility.” Owoyesigyire added.
On several occasions, there is an outcry especially in government health facilities over lack of drugs as many of the patients are asked to buy the same from pharmacies and clinics located near the facilities.
Several investigations have indicated that these pharmacies and clinics are owned by mostly doctors from the government private facilities or government officials with connection to the Ministry of Health.
Theft of government drugs is a challenge in Uganda as most of the stolen supplies end up in private medical centres.
These, after stealing the drugs, pack them into their private health facilities and sell them to the public at exorbitant prices for their own benefits.
