A former Gulu based police doctor accused of theft of government drug worth millions of shillings has been arrested and handed over to the anti-corruption court in Kampala, three years after he was first accused.
ASP Dr Walimbwa Abdallah the former in-charge of Gulu Police Barracks Health Center III was arrested on Wednesday last week at police training school, Kabalye in Masindi district where he was head of the medical team.
The arrests followed pressures from the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity [DEI] and the Directorate of Public prosecution [DPP].
It is alleged Dr Abdallah was in 2013 intercepted by security operatives with 12 boxes of assorted government drugs, majority being anti-malarial drugs meant for the police health centre. He reportedly had intention of transporting the medicine to Mbale district.
The Anti-corruption Coordinator in charge of Acholi Sub-region, Mr Christopher Opiyo Ateke told Acholi Times on Tuesday that the arrest of the suspect was long overdue.
by police.
According to Mr Ateke, Dr Abdallah was interrogated by police Professional Standard Unit in Gulu District after his arrest but on ‘‘unclear grounds’’ his case file disappeared
Mr Ateke alleges that when pressure was piled to have the suspect’s filed forwarded to the Resident State Attorney, police instead responded by transferring Dr Abdallah to Butiaba police training wing in Bulisa District.
Aswa Regional Police Spokesperson Mr Jimmy Patrick Okema confirmed the arrest of Dr Abdallah. Okema said the suspect was brought to Gulu district where his case file was sanctioned before being taken Kampala and arraigned at the Anti-Corruption court on Friday last week.
Mr Okema noted that the suspect is facing charges of embezzlement government property and abuse of office contrary to Police ethics.
Meanwhile, police in Gulu district are also investigating two health workers over alleged theft of Hepatitis B Vaccines.
Dr. Morris Ocitti, the in charge of Gulu University Health Center II is accused of the disappearance of 500 doses of Hepatitis B vaccines that where supplied to the health facility in Mid-July this year. He was arrested by but later released on bond last week.
Also being investigated is Dr Margaret Emecu, the proprietor of Lubii Medical Centre in Lgara Road in Gulu town who was found in possession of 15 boxes of government anti-malarial drugs.
State Minister for Primary Health Care Dr Moriku Kaducu, in a July 8 letter directed health officials in Gulu district to stop the distribution of hepatitis B vaccines and testing kits to private medical facilities pending investigations.
Its reported 23,000 vaccines were released to private facilities to benefit locals in Gulu freely but instead they were being charged before vaccination.
