The Health Monitoring Unit has seized government drugs estimated to be worth Shs 25 million which were recovered from a private residence in Mulago. The seized drugs were labeled as belonging to government, ordinarily meant to be accessed in public health facilities at no cost.
The seizure followed an operation conducted by the Health Monitoring Unit (HMU) on May 28 following a tip off from a whistleblower, according to Dr Jackson Ojera Abusu, the HMU Director.
He told journalists on Tuesday that the Unit received information that there were suspected government medical consumables in a private home in Lower Nsooba Mulago 3.
“That very evening, an investigative team visited the premises in question and indeed recovered some items,” he said.
The items found at the residence included; 113 rolls of gauze, 11 tins of Cotrimoxazole 480mg tablets, a tin of Paracetamol tablets, a tin of Chloroquine tablets and that of Metronidazole tablets.
Six (6) boxes and 4 pieces of IV cannulae, 16 boxes of Lumaterm 16.5 of 30 strip each and 66 boxes of gloves of 50 pairs were also recovered.
Each of these items, said Dr Abusu, were labelled in red ink ‘Government of Uganda For Public Use Only, Not For Sale’.
The house from which the items were recovered is reportedly owned by a one Hassan Gudhugo who is currently in Police custody to assist investigations.
“Also in custody is Hassan’s younger brother, Gudhugo Ayub and a one Karungi Laziya who were inhabitants of the house in question. It is not clear at this point whether the trio are government health workers or how they got into possession of government health consumables,” the HMU Director added.
Four days prior to the recovery, a suspected stolen CD4 machine worth Shs 28 million was recovered in a bar in Kampala. It was in the process of being sold when the HMU was tipped off and responded and intercepted the transaction.
Four suspects are currently in detention in Bushenyi and another in Kampala for their alleged involvement the sale of the machine.
Dr Abusu has appealed to the public to continue with this vigilance and to call the HMU toll free number (0800200477) or texting any tip to 8200 with information on not only suspected theft of government health supplies but also any malaise within the health sector.
The HMU was established by the President to support an efficient and accessible health system that works for all Ugandans by ensuring accountability for all resources in the health sector.