Health workers charged over neglect of duty

The Chief Magistrates’ Court in Mubende District has charged two health workers over neglect of duty.
Prosecution led by Ms Viola Tusingwire told court on Tuesday that Mr Kato Kamu, the officer in charge of Madudu Health Centre III and Mr Alex Wadimba, a records officer at the same health unit, had reported for work less than four times in two months.
The submissions are based on a survey conducted by the State House Medical and Health Services Delivery Monitoring Unit, which said the accused are habitually absent from duty without authority.

The Mubende Chief Magistrate, Ms Juliana Akiyo, said being civil servants, the duo could have known that deserting from duty is tantamount to neglect of duty.
The duo were however, granted a cash bail of Shs250,000 each and adjourned the case to May 26.

In their defence, the two blamed lack of housing at the health centre for the late coming, saying they had been forced to find alternative housing in far away areas.
However, according to the State House Health Monitoring Unit report, many of the health, just like the duo, abscond from duty to private work.

Early this year, two health workers at Kasambya Health Centre IV in Mubende District were arrested for allegedly soliciting bribes from patients in exchange for drugs.