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By Samuel Onen and Edward Akaki
A joint operation between the police and the National Drug Authority surveillance Unit yesterday 24th October, 2022 recovered medical stores worth over 700million from Akfrank medical clinic located in Monbunyu, Padwong Division, Kitgum Municipality.
The clinic that belongs to a one Akena Robert was found with medical equipment such as malaria test kits that was displayed and being sold. This prompted the National Drug Authority (NDA) officials and police into breaking the store of the drug shop leading to the discovery of other equipment.
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Akena works at Kitgum hospital as an Assistant Pharmacist doubling as the store keeper for Kitgum Regional Hospital and has been using his position at the hospital to steal the hospital drugs and other things that would have helped the patients.
According to Abianz Rwamwiri, spokesperson NDA, all the drugs they have recovered was well branded “Government of Uganda, Not for Sale” and other equipment with clear indication that it belongs to the government.
He said the unit has another tip that Akena has another drug shop in Gulu which by the time of this reporting was cordoned off for search, however further information indicates that Akena has been selling government drugs to other small clinics across the region.
Akena is currently on the run but arrested will be charged with “possession of Government stores illegally” and once charged and found guilty can face upto 10years in prison. Police is keeping in there custody the drug shop attendant as they are on the search for Akena.
Akfrank Medical clinic is a private entity that was hoding the license of the National Drug Authority before it was immediately withdrawn and blacklisted from ever getting such a license ever again.
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“All the drugs and equipment will be captured as evidence and will be presented in the courts of law as court exhibits where after the magistrate will decide on the course of action but most likely the medicines will be destroyed and the equipment taken back to the national store”, added Abianz.
An attempt to reach the Aswa Regional Police Spokesperson David Ongom Mudong for a comment was futile as he did not answer his cell on several attempts.
