By Editorial,
The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has remanded a 37-year-old Assistant Nursing Officer to prison over allegations of conducting an illegal surgical procedure without authorization, registration, or a valid practicing licence.
John Bosco Optima, who is attached to Atutur General Hospital in Kumi District, was yesterday afternoon produced before Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa and charged with three counts: practicing without a licence, registration, and committing a negligent act likely to spread infection.
Prosecution alleges that Otim has been practicing as an Assistant Nursing Officer without a valid licence from the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council. Court records indicate that Otim’s licence had expired on December 12, 2014.
According to court records, on April 30, 2025, Otim allegedly performed an umbilical hernia operation on a patient identified as Michael Aisu, despite lacking the qualifications and authority to carry out such a procedure. Prosecution also told the court that Otim allegedly demanded and received 100,000 shillings from the patient. End