Five remanded for stealing an ambulance

 Police investigations reveal that the ambulance, a Toyota Land Cruiser reg. no. UG 6812 M, was stolen from the Arua Regional Referral Hospital parking yard on Saturday, March 27, 2021. Then it was reportedly sold in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The suspect, Philiam Dramani, 34, was charged with four offences together with Alex Wadia, a driver at Arua Regional Hospital; Ocatre Denis, a dental assistant at the hospital; Erawu Matthew, a security guard at the hospital and businessman Moses Baguma. 

Appearing before Principal Grade One Magistrate Moses Nabende, the five accused persons denied charges of corruption, stealing a motor vehicle, dealing with a suspect and conspiracy to defraud. 

The five are in the dock over several counts of corruption charges under the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009 and Penal Code Act. The offences attract maximum sentences ranging from three to 10 years, upon conviction. 

In relation to the case, the magistrate issued criminal summons against Christopher Acadribo, a surveyor in Arua city. 

However, he did not show up in the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo, Kampala, on January 12, 2022, as per subpoena. That is because he is allegedly on the run. 

“Criminal summons are hereby issued against Acadribo over failure to turn up in court to answer charges levelled against him,” the magistrate directed. 

The state attorney Stephen Ariong, from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), informed the court that investigations into this case are still incomplete. 

“I pray that you give the police time to complete investigations,” Ariong requested. 

The Prosecution alleged that between February and April 2021, the accused persons conspired with one another to steal a brand new ambulance given to Arua hospital by the Ministry of Health last year for highway emergency service response. 

It is further alleged that Alex Wadia, in the course of discharging his duties as the driver attached to the Hospital, facilitated the theft of the ambulance for illicit purposes of obtaining a benefit for himself or third parties. 

Dramani, a driver with OPM, reportedly drove the ambulance out of the Government Hospital to its new destination.

The ambulance was only reported missing two days later on Monday after the Arua Resident City commissioner, Martin Oroch, requested for it to transport two enforcement officers attached to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to Arua Regional Referral Hospital after they were beaten up by an angry mob in Ayivu East.