By Moses Andama
www.mknewslink.com
In Masindi—
Police in Masindi have arrested a health worker attached to Masindi General Hospital over allegations of extorting money from a mother who had a dead baby in her womb and required an emergency operation.
Masindi Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Sanon Dhala says a man, whose identity has been withheld, reported the matter to his office on September 8, 2026, alleging that his wife had suffered a miscarriage, leaving a dead fetus in her womb.
According to Dhala, the couple went to Masindi General Hospital, where a health worker identified only as Brian, a clinical officer at the facility, allegedly demanded Shs200, 000 to carry out an operation to remove the fetus.
Dhala says the man paid the money, but Brian later referred the woman to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital and allegedly demanded an additional Shs300, 000 for fuel for a government ambulance to transport her to Hoima.
The man, who could not afford the additional amount, instead reported the matter to the Deputy RDC.
Dhala says he immediately contacted Dr Rogers Musinguzi, the superintendent of Masindi General Hospital, who was reportedly surprised after reviewing the patient’s file and discovering that the woman had been referred to Hoima despite the case allegedly being manageable at Masindi General Hospital.
“I contacted the hospital superintendent, and after checking the file, he told me he was confused because the patient had been referred to Hoima, yet the case could be handled here at Masindi General Hospital,” Dhala said.
Following the complaint, Dhala says he directed the Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (OC CID) at Masindi Central Police Station to investigate the matter.
The investigation subsequently led to the arrest of the health worker, who was detained at Masindi Central Police Station.
Dhala condemned the alleged extortion by health workers at Masindi General Hospital and said the operation against the vice would continue.
“We shall continue taking action against health workers who extort money from patients. This operation will continue until this vice is completely curbed at the facility,” Dhala said.
By press time, the health worker was still being held at Masindi Central Police Station as investigations continued.