In Summary: A 32-year-old tailor suspected of stealing belongings from patients and attendants at Apac General Hospital is currently in police custody after officers recovered six bags containing clothes, shoes, laptop bags and flasks from her home.
Apac, Uganda — Police in Apac District have arrested a 32-year-old woman suspected of repeatedly stealing personal belongings from patients and their attendants at Apac General Hospital, following an investigation that led to the recovery of six bags of suspected stolen property from her home.
The suspect, identified as Ayugi Stella, a tailor from Te Itek Village in Ibuje Sub-county, was arrested after several complaints of missing belongings triggered a coordinated investigation involving police, local leaders, hospital security and community members.
North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson Patrick Jimmy Okema said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect allegedly exploited morning cleaning routines at the hospital to steal belongings temporarily placed on verandas outside the wards.
Police said the recovered property included clothes, shoes, laptop bags and flasks, while Shs700,000 reported missing by two victims had not yet been recovered.
The investigation gained momentum on November 4 after Apio Dorcus, an attendant at the hospital, reported that her tea flask and mat had disappeared.
Dorcus reportedly became suspicious after noticing a woman moving around the hospital wards before discovering that her belongings were missing.
Community members subsequently enlisted the assistance of boda boda riders, who helped trace the suspect to her home in Te Itek Village. The missing tea flask and mat were reportedly recovered from the residence.
The suspect was later apprehended by the village LC I chairperson, Jimmy Odyek.
Police said suspicion against her was further heightened when another victim reportedly identified clothing she was wearing as property allegedly stolen from them.
The recovery of the items prompted further inquiries into other complaints of missing belongings at the health facility.
Six bags recovered
On November 6, police searched the suspect’s grass-thatched house and reportedly recovered six bags, two brown and four black, containing clothes, shoes, laptop bags and flasks.
Investigators are working to establish the rightful owners of the recovered items and determine whether all the property is connected to the reported hospital thefts.
Five victims have so far recorded official statements, with police compiling case files for submission to the Resident State Attorney and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for review.
Shs700,000 still missing
Despite the recovery of several personal belongings, Shs700,000 reported missing by two victims remains unaccounted for.
Police identified Shs600,000 as belonging to Akello Stella and Shs100,000 to Atim Sarah.
Investigators are pursuing the missing money as they establish the full extent of the alleged thefts and whether there are additional victims who have not yet reported their losses.
Cleaning routine allegedly exploited
According to police findings, the suspect allegedly took advantage of the hospital’s morning general cleaning exercise, during which patients’ and attendants’ belongings are sometimes moved onto verandas outside the wards.
Investigators suspect that the temporary placement of personal effects outside the wards created an opportunity for theft.
The incidents have raised concerns about the protection of patients’ and attendants’ belongings during routine cleaning and other hospital activities that require personal items to be moved.
Apac District Police Commander Norah Mirembe said investigations were ongoing and that the suspect would be taken to court after the case file had been submitted to the DPP for review.
Mirembe said police were consolidating witness statements and evidence recovered during the searches to support the prosecution process.
The suspect has not been convicted of any offence and remains presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
Police urge hospital users to remain vigilant
Okema appealed to patients, attendants and visitors to remain alert, cooperate with hospital security and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to police.
The involvement of local leaders and boda boda riders in tracing the suspect has also highlighted the role of community cooperation in supporting crime investigations.
As investigations continue, police are seeking to establish whether all six recovered bags are connected to the reported thefts, trace the missing Shs700,000 and identify any other possible victims.
The case has also drawn attention to the vulnerability of patients and attendants, who often have to safeguard their personal belongings while attending to medical needs at public health facilities.
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