Six health workers at Atutur Hospital in Kumi District have been arrested by the State House Health Monitoring Team over allegations of extortion and misconduct, following a public outcry during a community health dialogue held at the hospital premises.
The arrests were prompted by testimonies from residents who accused medical staff of charging for services meant to be free and habitually reporting late for duty.
The revelations were made during a community engagement organized to evaluate healthcare delivery in the district.
Dr. Julian Nabatanzi, Deputy Director of the Health Monitoring Unit, confirmed the arrests and said investigations into the matter are ongoing.
“We received complaints of extortion, where patients were being charged for services that should be provided at no cost in a public facility,” she said. The identities of the arrested health workers have been withheld pending further inquiry.
The Health Monitoring Unit’s findings exposed deeper systemic issues plaguing Kumi’s health system, including severe understaffing—estimated at a 60% shortfall.
Dr. Nabatanzi also noted that some health workers have refused to adopt the newly introduced electronic monitoring system, complicating efforts to track attendance and accountability.
“Absenteeism remains a significant challenge,” she noted. “Patients often walk over 10 kilometers only to find no staff on duty. This is unacceptable in a public health facility.”
Residents who attended the dialogue voiced frustrations over frequent drug stockouts, being charged for referrals, and consistent cases of extortion. One resident stated, “We are tired of paying for services that should be free. The poor suffer the most.”
Responding to the drug shortage issue, Dr. Emmanuel Ongalo, Kumi’s District Health Officer, attributed the problem to inadequate supplies from the National Medical Stores and urged the community to report any staff misconduct.
“Transparency is key. We encourage patients to report any cases of extortion so that appropriate action can be taken,” Ongalo said.
Silas Aogon, Member of Parliament for Kumi Municipality, called on residents to speak boldly about challenges they face in public services.
“Communities must not stay silent. It is through your voices that we can effect change,” he told attendees.
Hussein Hudu, the Kumi Resident District Commissioner, welcomed the intervention by the State House Health Monitoring Team, expressing hope that it would help restore accountability and improve health services in the district.
In addition to enforcing staff discipline, Dr. Nabatanzi urged government action to upgrade Health Centre IIs, recruit more health workers, and increase funding to ease congestion at Atutur Hospital.
She also encouraged the public to prioritize disease prevention—especially against malaria, HIV/AIDS, and sickle cell disease—to reduce the burden on the strained health system.
The State House Health Monitoring Unit continues its oversight missions across Uganda to ensure public health facilities serve citizens effectively and ethically.
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