Akena, the suspect in the drug theft in Kitgum/ Internet photo
Robert Akena, who is accused of stealing medical supplies worth 1.5 Billion Shillings from Kitgum General Hospital has surrendered to the police.
Jimmy Segawa Ebil, the Resident District Commissioner Kitgum said that Akena, a pharmacist handed himself to Kitgum Central Police Station on Tuesday, where he is being detained.
Last month, officials from National Drug Authority (NDA) confiscated government drugs and medical supplies worth over 700 Million Shillings from Akfranc Medicines, a private drug shop in Kitgum municipality belonging to Akena, who is a pharmacy technician from Kitgum General Hospital.
NDA also confiscated more supplies from Unyama Trading Center in Gulu City, following a tip-off that Akena had another clinic there. Akena however fled and had been on the run.
Ebil said the security personnel kept picking up many intelligence reports about where Akena was hiding and mounted pressure on him until he surrendered.
Some of the medical supplies recovered during the operation included an Oxygen concentrator and its accessories, kidney cups, a portable autoclave, a digital baby scale, an instrument trolley donated by USAID, drip stands, a bone operation set, six surgical trays, and two digital thermometers, among others.
Mandur Suwed, the District Police Commander said that they are still carrying out investigations and divulging the information would jeopardize investigations.
Illegal possession of government stores is contrary to section 316 of the Penal Code Act.
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