A UPDF soldier and a civilian have been arrested in Butaleja District for stealing iron sheets from Busolwe General Hospital.
IP Moses Mugwe, the spokesperson for the Bukedi South Regional Police, confirmed the arrests on Thursday.
“On the site, one UPDF officer from the engineering brigade was caught hauling the iron sheets,” he revealed.
According to authorities, the soldier is a member of the UPDF engineering unit, which is now working on the health facility’s renovations.
According to reports, the two suspects were apprehended after police initiated an investigation into the theft of iron sheets in response to hospital officials’ concerns.
“They (suspects) came with a truck and started loading the iron sheets that had been removed from the roof of the staff apartments,” Mr James Wire, the board chairperson of Busolwe General Hospital, stated.
Police say they put informers in the hospital to eavesdrop on the personnel as part of a special operation and investigation led by ASP Peter Baitera Muhanuzi, the district’s Officer-in-Charge of Criminal Investigations Department.
The suspects were apprehended three days later in connection with the theft of roughly 100 iron sheets.
Lt Ronald Musasira, the facility’s engineering brigade commander, acknowledged the arrest but denied knowing the suspect.
“Those who took the iron sheets are not UPDF employees.” They are civilians who are assisting us. “They came asking for work, and we hired them,” stated Lt Nasasira.
Major Isaac Oware, a spokesperson for the UPDF’s 3rd division, told journalists that inquiries into the situation have begun.
“If the accused are proved guilty, they will face legal charges,” Major Oware stated.
On March 28, 2022, the Butaleja District turned over the construction of new staff housing at Busolwe Hospital to the UPDF engineering brigade, with a budget of Shs5 billion.
