The Kiira Region police have detained Juma Toola, a clinical officer working at Buwenge Health IV in Jinja district on charges of extortion. Toola’s troubles began last week when he allegedly demanded Shillings 350,000 from 65-year-old George Dhatemwa, a resident of Buwolomela village in Buwenge sub-county, Jinja district before connecting him with a doctor for surgery.
Dhatemwa stated that he came to Buwenge Health Center IV after being referred by health workers at a lower facility for a hernia surgical procedure. He explained that Toola initially asked him to pay Shillings 1,000,000 last Monday, but realizing that he couldn’t afford the demands, Toola reduced the amount to Shillings 700,000.
As Dhatemwa still couldn’t raise the required funds, Toola further lowered the amount to Shillings 400,000 Shillings. Unable to meet this cost, Dhatemwa sought assistance from Deputy Jinja Resident City Commissioner, Juma Kigongo, who agreed to provide the necessary funds.
However, before handing over the money, it was photocopied and marked. Dhatemwa later passed the money to Toola on Monday morning. Moments after receiving 350,000 Shillings, Toola was apprehended by waiting detectives and taken to Buwenge Central Police Station. Upon realizing his predicament, Toola requested to use the pit latrine facilities at Buwenge Central Police Station.
While inside, he discreetly disposed of the money. Police officers from the Fire and Rescue Services Department were then tasked with recovering the money. The confiscated money is now being held at Buwenge Central Police Station, and Toola is facing two charges: extortion and obtaining money through false pretenses.
Juma Kigongo, the Deputy Resident Commissioner, indicated that he frequently receives extortion complaints against health workers and emphasized the need for a comprehensive prosecution of Toola to deter future incidents of such criminal activity. It’s worth noting that Toola was arrested in February of the previous year for allegedly raping a 20-year-old patient.
The victim claimed that Toola sedated her with unknown substances before the assault. She had reported a miscarriage and subsequent complications, and Toola allegedly raped her while monitoring patients on behalf of the doctor in the theatre area. Toola was released on police bond, and the victim lost interest in pursuing the case after months of following up with no progress in the courts, for unclear reasons.
However, Wilson Mwanja, the in-charge of Buwenge Health Center IV, assured that all complaints against Toola are under investigation by various security agencies and all victims will be provided with justice.
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