A medical center in Mukono is under scrutiny after a patient admitted to a rental room was found dead early on Monday morning.
St. Louis Medical Center, located in Kikooza, Mukono Central Division, admitted 28-year-old Fatumah Nakigudde from Anthony (Wantoni) village on Sunday after she sought medical assistance.
However, by morning, Nakigudde was discovered dead.
Preliminary investigations by Wantoni Police indicate that the deceased had been involved in a domestic dispute with her husband, which led to injuries.
After seeking medical care at St. Louis, Nakigudde was admitted, but the facility reportedly placed her in a rental room next door, not within the center’s main medical facility.
Luke Oweyesigyire, Deputy Spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police, stated that a comprehensive report would be released to the public once investigations are complete.
The Officer in Charge (OC) of Wantoni Police has visited the scene and arranged for a postmortem at Mulago Hospital.
The landlord of the rental property, identified as Margret Nagadya, along with Jack Mutebi, the medical worker attending to Nakigudde, were initially arrested on suspicion of murder.
However, Mutebi has since been granted police bond and removed from the investigation file.
Meanwhile, police are actively searching for Nakigudde’s husband for further questioning.
The case has raised suspicions of possible police bribery, with some suggesting that improper influence may have affected the investigation.
Paul Yiga, the owner of the medical facility, dismissed these claims, stating that he only paid fuel fees for the transport of the deceased’s body.
Yiga, however, declined to disclose the amount paid for the transport.
In a phone conversation, Yiga initially denied that the facility attended to Nakigudde, claiming that her team had brought her to the center already dead.
“Whoever is saying that death occurred at our center is paddling lies,” he stated.
The community has voiced concerns over the apparent lack of oversight for small medical facilities in the area.
Jacob Kawuma, a Mukono resident, attributed the presence of unprofessional medical practices to the possibility of bribery among health inspectors.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Nakigudde’s death and the practices of the medical center.
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