Police Arrest 32-Year-Old Woman Over Rising Thefts at Apac Hospital

Police in Apac District have arrested a 32-year-old woman suspected of repeatedly stealing patients’ and attendants’ belongings at Apac General Hospital, following complaints of missing money, clothes, bags and other personal items.

The suspect, identified as Ayugi Stella, a tailor and resident of Te Itek Village, Amii Amilo Parish in Ibuje Sub-county, was arrested after several hospital attendants reported thefts, prompting security interventions by the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and the District Police Commander (DPC).

According to North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, the RDC’s office and the DPC had earlier met hospital security guards and guided them on the need to remain alert and strengthen vigilance following numerous complaints about theft at the facility.

Okema said that on November 4, 2026, one of the attendants, Apio Dorcus, reported the theft of her tea flask and a mat, with suspicion falling on a woman who had reportedly been seen moving around the hospital without a clear reason before disappearing.

With the assistance of boda boda riders who knew her, the suspect was traced to her residence, where Apio reportedly recovered her missing tea flask and mat.

The suspect was subsequently arrested by the Te Itek Village LC I Chairperson and handed over to Apac Central Police Station for detention and investigation.

Okema said that at the time of her arrest, the suspect was wearing a black skirt and a pink blouse, which another woman identified as clothing stolen from her.

He added that several other women came forward to report the theft of their personal belongings while receiving or attending to patients at the hospital.

The reported stolen items include laptop bags, backpacks, children’s and adult clothing, shoes, a mat and a tea flask.

Police said five complainants have so far recorded statements, including Akello Stella, 33, a businesswoman from Ginnery Cell in Ibuje Town Council; Atim Sarah, 25, a businesswoman from Village Inn, Apac Municipality; Apio Dorcus, 47, a businesswoman from Ongoda Cell in Apac Municipality; Aol Irene, 35, a peasant farmer from Atigolwok Village in Chegere Sub-county; and Atoke Joan, 28, a peasant farmer from Apele Village in Ibuje Sub-county.

In a further development, police said the suspect led investigators to her home on November 6, 2026, at around 1:00 pm, where six backpacks, comprising two brown and four black bags, were recovered from her grass-thatched house.

According to Okema, the recovered bags contained different personal belongings, and the suspect reportedly confessed to stealing them from Apac General Hospital.

Preliminary police findings indicate that the suspect allegedly took advantage of the hospital’s morning general cleaning exercise, during which patients’ and attendants’ belongings are temporarily moved outside and placed on verandas, to steal the items.

However, police said that although several bags and other belongings had been recovered, cash amounting to Shs600,000 belonging to Akello Stella and Shs100,000 belonging to Atim Sarah was still missing.

Okema said police were compiling case files for submission to the Resident State Attorney for perusal and legal guidance on possible theft charges.

He urged patients, attendants and other hospital users to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious individuals or activities within the hospital to security personnel and police.