By Ivan Mwine
Shocking secrets why Dr. Byarugaba Baterana, the Mulago National Referral Hospital Executive Director was arrested by the State House Health Monitoring Unit have emerged.
According to credible sources, the State House Health Monitoring Unit is probing Dr. Baterana on how two pharmacies, Eco Pharmacy and First Pharmacy came to operate inside Mulago Hospital yet this is illegal.
According to Dr. Warren Namara, of the State House Health Monitoring Unit, it was discovered that funds worth Shs750M were paid to First Pharmacy for untraceable supplies, yet the same supplies bought from First Pharmacy were the same that NMS supplies at no cost.
The investigations also unearthed forged job cards and duplication of jobs by companies contracted to do repairs which were paid over Shs20Bn.
“In our view, we think private pharmacies shouldn’t operate in Mulago,” Dr. Namara said.
Besides operating illegally, it was also discovered that the two pharmacies have also defaulted on rent worth hundreds of millions of shilling.
Leaving the scandal about Eco Pharmacy and First Pharmacy, the State House Health Monitoring Unit is also investigating Dr.Baterana over allegations that as the Accounting Officer, he cannot account for over Shs28Bn, which is money government allocated for the expansion of Mulago Hospital.
Following their preliminary investigations, we have established that the State House Health Monitoring Unit has since resolved to charge Dr. Baterana with misuse of government funds, misuse of office, embezzlement and causing financial loss to government.
