Police officer sentenced to four years in jail for stealing gov’t drugs
Court heard that on September 28, 2023, Kule, who was attached to Kyenjojo Police Station but also served as an Assistant at Kyenjojo Health Centre II, abused his position to gain unauthorised access to government drugs and other medical supplies
KYENJOJO, August 26, 2024 – The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kyenjojo district, presided over by Magistrate Gloria Aciba Nimungu, has sentenced police officer Yusuf Kule Katuramu to four years in prison for stealing government drugs.
Court heard that on September 28, 2023, Kule, who was attached to Kyenjojo Police Station but also served as an Assistant at Kyenjojo Health Centre II, abused his position to gain unauthorised access to government drugs and other medical supplies. He subsequently sold these drugs to Tom Bwambale, who was convicted earlier by the same court.
During prosecution on Friday, Resident Senior State Attorney Joel Kakuru Akatukunda informed court that Kule’s theft of antimalarials, rapid malaria testing kits, and Amoxicillin capsules deprived 679 citizens of essential medical treatment. “Imagine 679 serving police officers were denied access to these critical drugs. This significantly increased the risk that their conditions could worsen or result in fatalities,” Akatukunda stated.
Akatukunda argued that under the law, stealing government drugs and other supplies could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. However, he requested a seven-year sentence for Kule to serve as a strong deterrent to others who might be involved in similar crimes.
“A significant sentence is necessary to deter others from engaging in such misconduct. If this behaviour is not addressed, it could undermine public trust in the Government of Uganda, which provides these drugs free of charge to health facilities,” he argued.
In response, Kule’s lawyer, Samuel Dusabe, requested court to consider his client’s ill health, old age, and responsibility as a first-time offender with young children. Dusabe sought a more lenient punishment, arguing for fairness given the circumstances.
After considering both arguments, Magistrate Nimungu sentenced Kule to four years in prison, with the time already spent on remand deducted from the sentence.
Earlier this year, the same court sentenced Denis Blessing, a pharmacist in Kyenjojo, to six years in prison for operating a pharmacy without a licence and for possessing government drugs. Tom Bwambale and four others were each given three-year sentences for unlawful possession of government drugs.
Abiaz Rwamwiri, the Public Relations Officer of the National Drug Authority [NDA], commented that such prosecutions serve as a warning to others who might consider stealing government drugs. “Kule’s lengthy trial process, which lasted 11 months, was necessary as he denied the charges, unlike his colleagues who pleaded guilty and were sentenced more swiftly,” Rwamwiri said, commending the court’s decision.
https://thecooperator.news/mbarara-two-health-officials-arrested-charged-over-stealing-govt-drugs/
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