Jinja hospital disowns health worker arrested for staging street bash

Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Jinja Regional Referral Hospital has disowned Emmanuel Muwema, a health worker who was arrested over the weekend for staging a street bash in violation of the COVID-preventive measures. Muwema was picked up together with two others for holding a street bash along Iganga road in the southern division of Jinja city where they were found partying and drinking alcohol.

Shortly after his arrest, Muwema identified himself as an anesthesiologist attached to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and presented an identity card number 1357 issued by the Health Ministry. Muwema also claimed that he was part-timing at Nile International Hospital, a private health facility in Jinja city.

On Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Florence Tugumisirize, the Director Jinja Regional Referral Hospital told journalists that Muwema was part of the staff contracted by the MOH to boost the human resource in their COVID-19 Treatment Unit-CTU in June last year.

She says that they asked Muwema together with his other colleagues whose contracts expired in November last year to continue working with them on a voluntary basis as they await renewals but they haven’t received any response from MOH.

She explains that Muwema absconded from duty for six months, which prompted them to petition MOH leading to his dismissal on 17th, June 2021.

The Kiira central acting police commander, Mourice Niyonzima says that Muwema together with his co-accused are out on police bond, adding that they have submitted their file to the State Attorney for perusal and sanctioning.

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