Two Budaka health centre officials charged over sh25.7m fraud

BUDAKA - Two officials from Budaka district have been charged and remanded to prison over allegations of embezzling sh25.7m from Lyama Health Centre III.

Joseph Bosco Masolo, a senior clinical officer and in charge of Lyama Health Centre III, together with Charles Moses Makubba, a health information assistant, appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero, presided over by Principal Grade Magistrate Christopher Opit, on March 27, 2026.

Masolo was charged with embezzlement of sh25.7m, contrary to Section 18(a)(d)(i) of the Anti-Corruption Act, Cap. 116 as amended. Makubba, on the other hand, was charged with false accounting, contrary to Section 22 of the same Act.

The offence of embezzlement carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment, a fine not exceeding sh6.7m, or both.

False accounting attracts a penalty of up to seven years’ imprisonment, a fine not exceeding sh3.3 million, or both.

In addition, any person convicted of an offence under the Anti-Corruption Act is barred from holding public office for a period of 10 years.

The prosecution, led by senior state attorney Viola Tusingwire from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, alleges that between November 2023 and February 2024, Masolo, while serving as the in-charge of Lyama Health Centre III in Budaka District, stole government drugs worth sh25.7m.

The prosecution said the drugs had been supplied by the National Medical Stores and were under his control by virtue of his office.

Regarding the charge of false accounting against Makubba, the prosecution alleges that between June 2023 and February 2024 at Lyama Health Centre III in Budaka district, while employed as a health information assistant responsible for medical records management, he knowingly made false entries in stock cards.

It is alleged that Makubba falsely indicated that he had conducted a physical stock count of drugs and medical supplies on January 8, 2024, whereas not.

They denied the charges.

Senior state attorney Tusingwire informed the court that investigations into the matter are still ongoing and requested more time to allow police to conclude their inquiries.

Magistrate Opit remanded the accused to Luzira Prison until April 1, 2026, to allow the State to verify documents presented by the sureties when they appear in court.

The case was investigated by officers from the Medicines and Health Services Delivery Monitoring Unit.

About Health Monitoring Unit

The Medicines and Health Services Delivery Monitoring Unit in Uganda, also known as the State House Health Monitoring Unit, was established in August to September 2009.

Set up by the President, the unit’s mandate is to investigate poor service delivery, curb the theft of medicines, and enhance accountability in the health sector, operating directly under State House.