Hospital staff in trouble for selling COVID19 Vaccination Cards to unvaccinated persons

Authorities in Hoima district have arrested two health workers attached to Butema Health Center III in Buhanika sub-county on allegations of selling COVID-19 Vaccination cards to non-vaccinated people.

The duo is in custody at Hoima central police station after they were picked up on Monday afternoon.     

According to Julius Hakiza the Albertine region police spokesperson, it is alleged that the suspects connived with a cleaner at Butema health center identified as Ivan Bigirwa to sell COVID-19 vaccination cards to various people in Hoima city and the district. 

Bigirwa was caught red-handed on Sunday afternoon while selling the cards at Hoima Boma grounds in Hoima city. 

Police arrested Bigirwa and took him to Hoima city central police station where he is locked up. Hakiza says that police summoned the two health workers to record statements on how the cleaner secured stamped COVID-19 vaccination cards from the health facility without their consent.

Preliminary police investigations indicate that the health workers connived with the cleaner to sell the cards at between Shillings 50,000 and 100,000 each.

Police are currently hunting for other staff attached to the same health facility who were summoned to record statements in vain. 

Hakiza says they are also investigating some other members of staff at Hoima Regional Referral hospital believed to be part of the racket.