Luuka District Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Ronald Katende, accompanied by Assistant RDC Umar Ntogona and the District Internal Security Officer (DISO), arrested several health workers in Luuka District for neglecting their duties and extorting money from patients.
Among those arrested was Joel Mbwoira, a clinical officer at Kiyunga Health Center IV in Luuka District, while his colleague, Viola Namugere, is currently on the run and reportedly hiding.
This action was taken after complaints from patients about not being attended to, which tragically resulted in the death of a child due to lack of treatment at Kiyunga Health Center IV. The health workers allegedly refused to care for the child, leading to the child’s death.
When Viola Namugere witnessed the situation, she fled from the hospital. The child’s mother recounted the events to RDC Katende, explaining how the health workers ignored her and refused to provide treatment for her child.
Joel Mbwoira was taken to Luuka Central Police Station (CPS) on charges of extortion after Naigaga Safiyati, a resident of Kimanto village in Bukanga Sub-County, accused him of demanding 30,000 UGX for the treatment of her son.
The situation prompted RDC Katende to arrest Mbwoira for extorting money from patients.
Patients also reported to RDC Katende and his team that similar issues were occurring at Bukanga Health Center III in Bukanga Sub-County. This led the RDC, ARDC, and DISO to visit Bukanga Health Center III, where they questioned the Assistant Medical Superintendent, Andrew Ssegonga. Ssegonga denied the allegations, stating that they provide proper care and medicine to patients.
In an interview with RDC Katende, he revealed that they had been hearing about poor services at Kiyunga Health Center IV, but today’s tragic news confirmed the neglect, leading to the child’s death. He further explained that health workers were instructing patients to buy medicine even though the facility’s stores were stocked. He also confirmed that Mbwoira had been arrested for extortion and that his file was being prepared for court. Katende added that Namugere, who caused the child’s death through neglect, would soon be arrested, even though she is currently on the run.
An emergency meeting between the health workers in Luuka District, their management, the RDC’s office, and the police has been scheduled for Friday to address the situation.
