Moses Kabangi, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Environmental Health, has been interdicted over allegations of soliciting money from medical interns with the promise of deploying them in favorable hospitals, according to Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Senior Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Ainebyoona says Kabangi and a group of medical interns were allegedly working together to exploit unsuspecting young doctors. The revelation comes amid an ongoing investigation into this corruption, initiated by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit last week. Five medical interns from Mulago National Referral Hospital, Soroti, Mukono, and Kitovu hospitals are expected to appear for interrogation today (Monday).
In a letter written by Dr. Joseph Okware on behalf of Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the Director General of Health Services, the unit summoned thirty-nine interns deployed at various sites across the country to understand the circumstances surrounding their deployment, given the escalating allegations of extortion, influence peddling, and unethical behavior by some officials.
These hearings are set to conclude on Tuesday. Dr. Bill Adrati, the President of the Federation of Uganda Medical Interns, views this investigation as crucial, suggesting that many of his colleagues have been victims. He points to the recent deployment, which followed prolonged conflicts and protests due to delays, as an example where the process allegedly punished activist doctors engaged in demonstrations.
Adrati, currently interning at Anaka Hospital in the Nwoya district, emphasizes that while the ministry claims the process is random and fluid, it needs clarity on the specific criteria used for deployment.
Dr. Herbert Luswata, the President of the Uganda Medical Association, states that upon receiving information about the summoned medical interns, they contacted Ministry of Health officials to seek clarity on whether the invited interns were suspects in the extortion case or not.
Meanwhile, Adrati mentions that he had previously tried to inquire about the facilitation of medical interns from top officials, including the Director General of Health Services and Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine, but received no responses before the involvement of the anti-corruption unit.