Dr. Charles Dradu, A dentist at Nebbi General Hospital in Nebbi District, has been apprehended over heavy drinking during working hours on August 14, 2024.
Dradu’s arrest was ordered by health committee of Parliament who were at Nebbi General Hospital for an oversight visit to assess the status of health service delivery at the facility.
The after the committee whilst for a meeting with local leaders, the hospital staff and other stakeholders discovered that he was reportedly drunk.
The Resident District Commissioner of Nebbi Robert Abak stated that he has been on several occasions involved in heavy drinking during working hours .
” This is not the first time we are handling him, the man I think has some mental illness and is a drug addict, I’m not shy to say this ” Abak revealed.
He added that ” As much as patients say he is a a performer , we can’t accept somebody who is drunk to handle patients”
Abak also recommended for rehabilitation of Dr. Dradu, saying taking him to prison will not solve his predicament.
” Last time we handled him , this time we picked him again, I want to get in touch with the management. I think the best place to take him is not prison but a rehabilitation center, taking him to prison will not solve the problem” Abak recommended
By press time, Dradu whose charge is not clear was being held at Nebbi central police station.
Dr. Joseph Ruyonga , The Chairperson Parliamentary Committee on health who double as the MP for Hoima West division during the meeting cautioned civil servants against misconduct, stating that the arrest serve as a warning to other staff engaged in similar practice.
This come just hours after the proposed Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill that posed tougher restrictions to regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol was thrown out of Parliament.
The bill seeks to regulate the manufacture, importation, sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks and also provide for the licensing of persons trading in alcoholic drinks and premises.
The bill also seeks to prohibit the sale of alcohol to specified persons and regulate the promotion and advertisement of alcoholic drinks and also seeks to regulate the time of sale of alcohol from noon to 6.00 am.
