VHTs in Otuke arrested for alleged theft of gov’t drugs

Otuke, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The police in Otuke district have arrested two members of the Village Health Team for stealing government drugs.

John Robert Okiror and Esther Alanyo attached to Ogwete health centre III were arrested on Tuesday for stealing drugs from the health centre.

They were found in possession of Erythromycin, Magnesium, Metronidazole and Piriton tablets, Amoxicillin capsules, Nestatine Oral suspension for children, Malaria RDTs and HIV testing kits among others.

They were arrested following a tip-off by a carpenter who was fixing doors at the facility.

Nickson Ojuka who is also the youth chairperson, Ogwete parish says he was at the facility when the two VHTs were stealing the drugs.

Mackenzie Okello, the Officer in charge Ogwete police station says that the two have been charged with illegal possession of government stores.

Peter Ocwech, the senior clinical officer in -charge Ogwete HCIII explained that the VHTs had access to the stores because they were dispensing drugs to the patients at the facility.

Stephen Enguru, the chairperson LCI for Weeibojo village says for a long time, he has been receiving complaints from members of his community who claim to have bought anti-malarial drugs from Okiror.

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