Written By |
Director of Mbale Hospital, Dr. Stephen Obbo
Search
By Our Reporter
The Director of Mbale Hospital, Dr. Stephen Obbo, and the hospital’s procurement officer, Joseph Ebasu, were arrested on Tuesday afternoon following a month-long investigation by the Police in collaboration with the State House Health Monitoring Unit (HMU). The investigation uncovered alleged gross mismanagement of funds, neglect of duty, and fraudulent activities at the hospital.
The arrests come on the heels of last week’s detention of four other hospital officials: Anthony Ogwang (hospital accountant), Bruno Ojono (hospital administrator), Martin Kizito (store in-charge), and Purica Ssemakula (hospital plumber). All six individuals face charges relating to financial mismanagement, fraud, and neglect of duty, which have reportedly resulted in a loss of over Sh11.4 billion.
The HMU and Police investigation exposed instances of missing drugs, fraudulent transactions, and severe mismanagement at the referral hospital. Mbale Division Police Commander, Kenneth Bakashaba, confirmed the arrests but declined to provide further details.
Dr. Warren Naamara, Executive Director of HMU, criticized the hospital’s management for its failure to utilize public funds meant for healthcare services effectively. He revealed that despite receiving substantial financial resources—Sh7 billion for the 2022/2023 fiscal year and Sh4.8 billion for 2023/2024—the hospital’s leadership misappropriated these funds, diverting them from their intended purposes.
Among the most alarming discoveries was the diversion of drugs and medical supplies, including anti-retrovirals, ceftriaxone, magnesium sulfate, oxytocin, and HIV test kits, valued at Sh400 million. These essential medications were either missing or improperly handled.
Naamara further revealed that the hospital’s wards were overcrowded, equipment was either in poor condition or non-functional, and patients were being referred to private clinics for treatment. This practice was exposed when one of the HMU team members posed as a patient.
“These brokers preyed on vulnerable patients, directing them to private clinics despite the hospital being capable of handling such cases,” Naamara explained.
Mbale Hospital
Patients share frustrations over poor services
Maria Tsimi, a 34-year-old mother who had recently sought treatment at Mbale Hospital, expressed her frustration over the poor state of services.
“I went to the hospital with my sick child, but the medics kept telling me the medicine was unavailable. I was advised to go to a nearby private clinic. Only after paying a bribe was I able to get the treatment my child needed,” Tsimi recounted.
Another patient, who chose to remain anonymous, shared a similar experience: “I waited for hours in line, only to be told that the medical equipment needed for my treatment was broken. Later, I found out the same equipment was being used at a private facility nearby, where a hospital doctor had referred me.”
Mismanagement and fraud uncovered
The HMU’s investigation also revealed that the hospital had made payments to full-time employees for tasks they were already paid to perform. Additionally, ineligible allowances were issued, and records of meetings, retreats, and benchmarking activities that never took place were falsified.
“We saw the requisitions for all these activities, which were paid for but never happened,” Naamara said.
Moreover, funds allocated for plumbing and electrical work were found to have been either poorly spent or embezzled. The plumbing was so inadequate that some hospital wards were temporarily closed due to flooding.
“These are funds that could have been used to improve patient care, but instead, they were siphoned off for personal gain,” Naamara added.
Hygiene and monitoring of health facilities
Although the hospital appeared clean on the surface, Naamara pointed out significant hygiene issues due to a reduction in cleaning staff. He emphasized that the HMU’s mission is to identify such challenges and work towards strengthening the healthcare system.
“We will not allow corruption and negligence to continue depriving Ugandans of the healthcare they deserve,” Naamara stated.
The HMU, established in 2009 under a presidential directive, is tasked with overseeing the efficiency and accountability of Uganda’s healthcare system. During the 2022/2023 fiscal year, the unit monitored 113 health facilities across 15 districts, leading to the arrest of over 30 individuals, including medical practitioners, accountants, and engineers.
Torch Media Africa
