Jesse Johnson James
The principal of Gulu College of Health Science wants COVID -19 patients removed from the institute’s premises after they were reportedly illegally ferried in.
The institute is located next to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. The hospital currently has over 40 COVID -19 patients receiving treatment at the boys’ dormitories at the institute after Gulu Regional Hospital’s isolation ward reportedly ran out of space.
Grace Aninge, the Principal of the College told our reporter in an interview that Gulu District COVID -19 Taskforce and the Management of the Hospital brought the patients into the institute premises without seeking the permission of the college management. She revealed that the team cut the institute fence, set up a tent, and ferried in patients.
“We were only told that 20 patients were brought in the night without our knowledge. Our fence was cut open. This is surely a violation of our rights and our governing council is not happy at all,” Aninge revealed
Aninge said that if the patients are not transferred to another place, reopening of the school for finalists on 4th June as directed by President Museveni in his address to the nation on 19th May will be affected.
“The District Taskforce has not communicated to us when they will take those patients. They need to be removed in time for the fumigation of the institute to be done thoroughly.”
Gulu College of Health Science’s other campus located at Laroo Division in Gulu Municipality is also being used as an institutional quarantine center for Gulu.
Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Chairman Gulu District says they held a District Executive Committee meeting on Monday which resolved that the UGX 60 million returned by the three Members of Parliament of Gulu be used for setting up another institutional quarantine center so that Gulu College of Health Science can be vacated.
According to Mapenduzi, the district Taskforce is in talks with Watoto church to offer one of their centers in Gulu town to be used as an institutional quarantine center.
Maj. Santos Okot Lapolo, the Gulu Resident District Commissioner who also doubles as the Chairman Gulu District COVID -19 Taskforce, however, said they ferried COVID -19 patients to Gulu College of Health Science because it is a government institution and that they did not need to get permission to use it.
Gulu Regional Referral Hospital has admitted 65 COVID -19 patients, majority were brought it from the border town of Elegu, Amuru district.
