Storekeeper of Nyapea Hospital arrested over mysterious death of a security guard

Storekeeper of Nyapea Hospital Arrested for Stealing Drugs- Hospital

By Mike Rwothomio

Fred Mugisha, the in-charge of stores at Holy Family Hospital Nyapea in Zombo district, was arrested on March 29, 2025, for reportedly stealing an assortment of anti-malarial drugs (Coartem), according to the hospital administration.

Mugisha, a long-serving staff member of Holy Family Hospital Nyapea, was arrested by the hospital guards, who allegedly caught him with the stolen drug assortments at around 1:00 AM on March 29 at the hospital’s compound when he was going back home.

Dr. Innocent Warom, the acting Medical Director of Holy Family Hospital Nyapea, told this publication that the suspect, upon arrest, was kept by the guards until morning and later transferred to Paidha Central Police Station for further investigation.

Warom added that the administration acted swiftly after a mob gathered at the hospital gate with a fit of rage, attempting to lynch him.

“Last night, our security guards at the hospital gate intercepted Fred as he was going out at around 1:00 AM. When he was going out, they checked around and discovered that he had actually picked some anti-malarial drugs from our stores, and they arrested him at the gate,” Warom explained.

Attempted escape

The suspect, in the process, attempted to escape from the house where he was temporarily detained but was re-arrested by the guards, according to Dr. Warom.

“In the process, he also tried escaping from the security guards at the gate. They followed him up and intercepted him again, and then they detained him,” Warom added

Mob Gathered

It’s reported that having caught news of his arrest, the community around gathered with a fit of rage, attempting to lynch him over allegations of poisoning his colleague, the hospital’s guard and acting foreman Patrick Jakony, who died a few days ago.

“Rumor had already spread that he was arrested in connection to the death of Jakony Patrick. People gathered by around 6:00 AM at the hospital’s gate with the intention of performing mob justice on him, but the administration kept him and informed police from Paidha, who later came and saved him,” Warom shared.

He added that the highly charged mob had mounted roadblocks to block the driver from transporting him to Paidha using the hospital’s ambulance.

Contradiction

In an earlier statement, the LCIII chairperson of Nyapea Sub-County, Constantine Omwon, told this publication in an interview that the suspect was arrested after relatives of the deceased hospital security guard, Patrick Jakony, demanded that the suspect explain the circumstances surrounding the death of their son.

“The truth of the matter was like this: that man called Fred, together with the late Askari Jakony, went for a burial in Zeu on Wednesday. When they came back, Jakony, in the evening, started experiencing too much stomach pain. He was rushed to the hospital, and before he was attended to, he died. So his friends and relatives are demanding that he (Fred) should explain the truth about what happened because they traveled together. That was the issue, not the other issue of the stolen drugs,” Omwon explained to this publication in an earlier interview on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Hospital Speaks on Death of Security Guard Patrick Jakony

Dr. Warom Innocent, the acting Medical Director, dismissed the rumours surrounding the death of the hospital’s security guard Patrick Jakony, explaining that they are still waiting for the investigation and post-mortem report.

“On Wednesday, they went together with the late Jakony for a burial since one of our staff who had lost his brother, and the burial was that day. So they went for the burial, and later on in the evening, I think they just reported to the hospital, and then Jakony proceeded back home,” Warom narrated.

He added, “Unfortunately, the next day, that was in the night, he fell sick and was brought, only to be confirmed dead in the hospital. So currently, we can’t tell exactly what killed him, but investigations are going on with the post-mortem being done.”

Grievances

As Fred Mugisha is being held at Paidha Central Police Station, the demise of Jakony Patrick, who was head of security guards and acting foreman, has sparked outrage amongst locals in Nyapea Sub-County, this publication understands.

He was a resident of Agore East, Oyeyu Parish, according to local leaders.

“He was a very humble and welcoming man,” Joe Ubedgiu, his area Councillor from Oyeyu Parish, recounted.

He added, “When Jakony came back at around 7:00 PM, he soon developed severe stomach pain and died upon being rushed to Nyapea Hospital.”

Police at Paidha Central Police Station are yet to issue a statement on the matter.

Holy Family Hospital – Nyapea
Founded by the Catholic Church was established in 1985. The hospital located in Nyapea sub-county, Okoro County, Zombo District – Nebbi Catholic Diocese, offers General Medical and Surgical services, specialised HIV/AIDS services amongst others.

It has annual OPD attendance of 16,106 contacts, 5,662 Admissions with a BoR of 34.8% and 1,194 average annual maternal deliveries with a C/S rate of 47.6%, according to the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau.