Amudat, Uganda — As medical interns protest over allowances, their colleague is behind police bars in Amudat District in the Karamoja sub-region over alleged theft of medicines.
A suspect by the name of Alex Chemayek, 42, an Anaesthetic Officer at Amudat Hospital, was arrested on Friday by police following a tip-off from a concerned resident.
Mr Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto Regional Police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, describing it as unfortunate.
He said a concerned local observed the health worker leaving the hospital premises carrying a sack full of drugs and alerted the police.
He said police responded immediately and followed the suspect to his residence at the nurses’ quarters, where he was arrested.
Mr Longole said a case of theft of government medicines has been registered in Amudat under CRB 039/2026.
He said the assorted medicines have since been recovered and include: 08 bottles of Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline), 01 bottle of Ringer’s Lactate, 01 box of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test kits, 01 box of surgical gloves, 20 pieces of Ceftriaxone injection, and 02 bundles of Zinc Oxide.
“Police have already obtained the suspect’s and witnesses’ statements, and the scene was documented. Police are still establishing the value of the recovered medicines and will submit the case file to the Resident State Attorney for legal advice,” he said.
Mr Longole commended the vigilance of hospital security, staff, and residents that led to the quick recovery of the medicines.
He also warned government health workers against stealing government drugs meant to help the public.
