Manafwa, (UG): The State House Health Monitoring Unit (SHHMU) has arrested two medical doctors attached to Bubulo Health Centre IV in Manafwa District on allegations of abuse of office and absenteeism.
The accused identified as Dr Paul Muto Bukhota and Dr Daniel Wenani are currently at Manafwa Central Police Station after they were arrested on Saturday by security operatives led by SP Miriam Akullo of the SHHMU.
According to SP Akullo, Dr Muto was arrested for reportedly abandoning work and also having two jobs in government and a Non-governmental organisation (NGO), Baylor- Uganda while Dr Wenani was arrested on allegations of elevating himself to a position of senior medical officer.
“Dr Muto has abandoned the work at the facility while Mr Wenani has been impersonating a senior medical officer and yet he is not,” Ms Akullo, said.
The duo’s arrest comes at a time when officials from the State House have pitched camp in Manafwa District monitoring service delivery in government facilities.
A probe into abuse of office by medical officers in the district was commissioned last month following reports of mismanagement in health services and increasing maternal deaths due to negligence by the health workers.
During the investigations, 18 ghost health centres and 75 health workers were discovered in the district. Further investigations also unearthed how a district supposed to have 92 health workers has 167, giving an excess of 75 health workers.
According to Dr Julian Nabatanzi, the deputy director of the State House Health Monitoring Unit, the four weeks’ investigations revealed that some health workers are extorting money from patients while others are committing fraud in health facilities.
Health workers in Manafwa District have been on the spot over extortion, absenteeism, negligence of duty, rudeness, drug theft and late coming, among others.
In July this year, the State House Health Monitoring Unit arrested an enrolled nurse, Isaac Musila and a driver attached to Bugobero Health Centre IV over absenteeism.
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