national 27 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Four Arrested in Kalangala Over Suspected Health Centre Drug Theft
Police in Kalangala District have apprehended four individuals, including the storekeeper of Bukasa Health Centre IV, in connection with the alleged theft of government-supplied medicines. Authorities recovered a significant quantity of Amoxicillin capsules valued at approximately Shs6 million. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/four-arrested-over-theft-of-govt-drugs-from-kalangala-health-centre-5510806
Authorities in Kalangala District have taken four people into custody as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged theft of vital government medicines from Bukasa Health Centre IV. Among those arrested is the health centre’s storekeeper, with police indicating that further suspects may still be at large.
Greater Masaka regional police spokesperson SP Twaha Kasirye stated that the apprehended individuals are facing charges of drug theft and will be presented in court once the investigation concludes. While the identities of the suspects have not been released due to the sensitive nature of the inquiry, Kasirye highlighted the incident as a sign of potential negligence among staff responsible for the secure storage of medical supplies.
During their operation, investigators successfully recovered 60 tins of Amoxicillin capsules. Each tin contains roughly 1,000 capsules, bringing the total recovered to approximately 60,000. Police estimate the street value of these confiscated medications to be around Shs6 million.
Assistant Resident District Commissioner Kajubi Twahika Kironde condemned the alleged theft, emphasizing its detrimental impact on public healthcare. He explained that such acts lead to shortages in essential medicines, ultimately harming the government’s efforts to provide adequate healthcare and potentially tarnishing its image. Kironde also noted that the theft deprives patients of necessary treatments and places an additional strain on a facility that already struggles with supply shortages while serving a large island population.
The Bukasa Health Centre IV plays a crucial role in providing healthcare to residents across multiple sub-counties spread over 61 islands. The investigation is continuing to ascertain the full extent of the theft and identify any other individuals involved in the removal of medicines from the facility’s stores.