By Martha John Savio – Kitgum Uganda
Uganda National Drug Authority (NDA) said it has recovered government drugs and medical equipment worth 1.7 billion Ugandan Shillings from private medical facilities across Lango and Acholi sub-regions.
In a three day operation that ended Wednesday, NDA listed the recovered items as oxygen converters, theatre accessories, malaria test kits, anti-malaria drugs, antibiotics and drugs used in theatres, and other medical assortments donated by the ministry of health and partners.
On Wednesday NDA recovered a big assortment of drugs from Akfranc medical center Kitgum municipality owned by Mr. Robert Akena, the assistant pharmacist at Kitgum district general hospital.
Mr. Abiaz Rwamwiri the NDA public relations officer said, they got intelligence information that, Mr. Akena was supplying government malaria testing kits among other medical supplies, to different private medical centres in the region.
He said they also have intelligence reports that shows that this is a syndicate act because “there is no way all these can leave the small Kitgum hospital without the knowledge of the medical superintendent and all the administrators getting concerned”.
Mr. Rwamwiri said, they had seized Mr. Akena’s registration certificate and pharmaceutical license.
Dr. Thomas Ojok the senior administrator at Kitgum general hospital said, they have suspended Mr. Akena and his supervisor.
Mr. David Ongom Mudong, the Aswa regional police spokesperson, said they have arrested one of Mr. Akena’s workers to help with investigations though he said, there is an allegation that, Mr. Akena had a medical centre somewhere in South Sudan.
The regional police spokesperson said as the government of Uganda, they will make all efforts to bring Mr. Akena to book.
David added that, Mr. Akena caliber of people are the ones making Ugandan citizens to suffer due to sickness, claiming drugs are over, yet the drugs being supplied by Uganda National Drug Authority have been miss managed by thieves and spoiling government properties.