By Editorial
Patients and attendants at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital are accusing prisoners assigned to safeguard their sick inmates of masterminding the theft of their personal belongings.
According to the patients, instead of guarding sick inmates, prison warders often leave them under the care of fellow inmates who use their partial freedom to steal valuables from patients and their attendants in different wards.
The prisoners often target women’s wards before spreading out to the general wards, which house both male and female patients in the same building.
A patient attendant, Stella Kagoya, narrated that earlier this month, they arrested a prisoner who was found with suspected stolen property ranging from smartphones, clothing, drugs, and other valuables.
Ms. Stella on prisoners….
Tom Musisi, another patient attendant in the psychiatric ward, said that they attempted to lynch one of the prisoners who had stolen phones, clothing, and other valuables from their ward, but were blocked by the hospital watchmen. Mr. Tom Musisi on theft….
The hospital director, Alfred Yayi, admitted receiving reports pertaining to theft within the hospital, adding that they are liaising with different key players to ensure that the vice is contained to foster safety for patients and their attendants. END.