Deputy IGG Orders Arrest of Bugiri Hospital Boss Over Mismanagement and Drug Sales

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Summary:

• Bugiri Hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Dr. Abubaker Nakendo, faces arrest for absenteeism and alleged involvement in the sale of government drugs following a surprise inspection led by Deputy Inspector General of Government Ms. Anne Muhairwe, revealing shortages of essential medical supplies and unauthorized possession of government resources in his private facility.

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Ms. Anne Muhairwe, the Deputy Inspector General of Government (DIGG), has issued an arrest warrant for the Medical Superintendent of Bugiri Hospital, Dr. Abubaker Nakendo. The charges include absenteeism and involvement in the illicit sale of government drugs. The decision came after a surprise inspection conducted by the Inspectorate of Government team, led by Ms. Muhairwe, at the hospital.

During the impromptu visit, it was noted that Dr. Nakendo was conspicuously absent from the hospital. A member of the Inspectorate of Government team revealed, “Some present staff indicated that he had not been at the hospital for approximately a week.” Despite attempts to contact him by phone during the inspection, the team was unsuccessful, and the inspections continued until around 11 pm.

The doctor on call, Dr. Isiku Christopher, was also not on the hospital premises during the inspection but eventually appeared hours later. Shockingly, the inspection revealed a shortage of essential medical supplies, with staff reporting a lack of access to antiseptics, gloves, blood, condoms, and medicines, among other necessities.

Patients, such as Ms. Hajira Nairuba, spoke of being forced to purchase their own medications from nearby pharmacies. Ms. Nairuba, attending to her son, explained that they had to buy all the required drugs, including antimalarials and antibiotics.

Another patient, Musa Mukwana, with a swollen stomach, had to leave the hospital premises periodically with his mother to obtain food. The Inspectorate of Government team, accompanied by Bugiri District Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Martin Mabandha, visited Bugiri Medical Services, purportedly owned by Dr. Nakendo. There, they discovered government drugs and medical supplies, including condoms marked “Government of Uganda – Not for sale” and blood packets from the Uganda Blood Bank marked “not for sale.” This was despite the facility not being accredited to handle blood, according to District Health Officer Dr. Stephen Kiirya.

In response to these findings, Ms. Muhairwe ordered the immediate arrest and interdiction of Dr. Nakendo. Several employees at Dr. Nakendo’s private facility, including Ms. Shakira Nakazibwe (midwife), Ms. Angella Nabwire (nurse), Ms. Dinah Namayanja, and Mr. Kirya Husseima (laboratory assistant), were arrested and handed over to the Bugiri District Police Commander. However, Dr. Nakendo is currently evading arrest and is on the run.