Masindi doctor arrested for extorting patients
He was detained at Masindi Central Police Station, where he remains in custody.
Masindi: Authorities in Masindi have arrested Dr. Leonard Kadiima, a medical officer at Masindi Main Hospital, over allegations of extorting money from patients.
The arrest follows claims that he demanded 800,000 Ugandan shillings from a 62-year-old woman from Kibamba village, Pakanyi Sub-County, in exchange for performing a life-saving operation on her uterus.
The district secretary for health, Sylvia Karungi, stated that the arrest was the result of mounting complaints about health workers asking for money in exchange for theater services at the hospital.
“We have been receiving complaints about health workers extorting money from patients to get theatre services at the hospital,” she explained.
During a hospital management committee meeting, the situation escalated when the patient’s relative interrupted the session to report that Dr. Kadiima had refused to proceed with the operation because they could not pay the requested fee.
In collaboration with security agencies, the team devised a plan to catch Dr. Kadiima in the act. The patient’s relative presented part of the requested money, which they photocopied as evidence.
Security personnel accompanied the woman as she handed over the payment, leading to Dr. Kadiima’s immediate arrest after receiving the money.
He was detained at Masindi Central Police Station, where he remains in custody.
Dr. Rogers Musinguzi, Masindi Hospital medical superintendent, confirmed the Kadiima’s arrested. “It’s true he has been arrested on allegations of extorting patients, and he is currently detained at Masindi Central Police Station.”
Dr. Musinguzi warned that strict punitive measures would be taken against any hospital staff found engaging in illegal acts, underscoring the hospital’s commitment to ethical practices.
Karungi called on the public to report any similar cases of extortion. “We urge the community to report such incidents immediately so we can act decisively to curb this growing vice.”
We couldn’t get a comment from police by press time.
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