Silva Osako, a laboratory technician attached to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital has been charged before Julius Mwesigye, the Gulu Grade I Magistrate for allegedly stealing HIV testing kits.
Osako, 27, has been charged with theft of 9 pairs of surgical gloves, 10 HIV tests strips, 20 septum cups, 44 syringes, a rapid diagnostic test for testing malaria and 8 set of anti-body testing reagent.
Prosecution led by Patrick Ojara alleges that on April 14, 2017, the suspect stole the medical supplies from his work place.
Osako was arrested and taken to Gulu Central Police Station and charged with theft. He denied the charge.
In his testimony on Thursday, Osako told the presiding Magistrate Mwesigye that on the fateful day at around 12 pm when he was leaving the hospital to go and have his lunch, a man approached him and later introduced himself as a detective.
Later, according to Osako, the man he identified as Loum informed him (Osako) that he was a suspect in the theft of government property.
Osako said Loum led him to Gulu Central Police Station, a stone throw away from the hospital. Osako said he was detained for four days.
During cross examination by the state prosecutor, Osako said he is neither in-charge of the drug store nor the hospital lab, saying that makes it difficult for him to access the stores to steal the equipment.
Magistrate Mwesigye adjourned the case to September 5 when he will make judgement in the matter.
