The Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Isanga Nakadama has directed all Residents District Commissioners and Resident City Commissioners to take tough action against the rampant cases of drug theft and medical supplies in government hospitals.
Nakadama who is also the Minister Without Portfolio noted that the country is registering numerous cases of drug thefts and medical supplies by health workers, abuse of office, and shoddy work which has made the public lose trust in the government.
She says many people believe that government hospitals are not providing the required services to the people.
Nakadama tasked security heads to conduct regular monitoring of public facilities, and also task the perpetrators to face the law since they are the first anti-corruption unit backed by the law.
She was speaking on Wednesday during a retreat of the RDCs, RCCs, and their deputies at Bomah Hotel in Gulu City.
According to Nakadama, health workers are conniving with casual workers at public health facilities to steal drugs and medical equipment for their private health facilities.
She explained that this can be prevented if the RDCs and RCCs enhance their intelligence networks and make surprise visits and checks in government health facilities among other public institutions.
The directive comes at a time when the country is battling acute drug shortage in some health facilities, theft of drugs, extortion, and abuse of offices by health workers.
The Minister also pointed out that the government is battling with the payment of ghost employees, absenteeism of staff, shoddy work by contractors, and divergence and disappearance of government funds.
Jimmy Segawa Ebil, the RDC for Kitgum said that they commit to taking up the directive and ensuring that they restore quality service deliveries to the citizens.
Gillian Akullo, the RDC for Otuke called for coordination and information flow between the office of RDC and all stakeholders for effective service deliveries.