Police in Luwero Town have arrested two health workers at Luwero Hospital over allegations of extorting money from a patient’s family. The suspects have been identified as Rebecca Nakiwala, an orthopedic officer, and Margaret Nabikolo, a health worker at the hospital.
According to Sam Twiineamazima, the Savannah Regional Police spokesperson, the incident stems from a case reported on July 14, 2026, when a woman who had sustained a deep cut on her right leg during a domestic violence incident was rushed to the hospital’s emergency ward.
It is alleged that the victim was not attended to because she could not afford to pay for treatment. Twiineamazima said that on July 15, 2026, the suspects allegedly demanded seven hundred thousand shillings from the victim’s brother before treatment could be provided.
Twiineamazima added that, unable to raise the full amount, the family reportedly managed to mobilize three hundred thousand shillings, which was handed over to the suspects.
“An amount of 300,000 shillings was later organized and handed to the suspects. Immediately after receiving the money, the two hospital staff were arrested and searched by the undercover policemen,” Twiineamazima said. Police recovered the money from one of the suspects, and the money has been retained as an exhibit.
The two suspects are currently detained at Luwero Central Police Station, where a case of alleged extortion has been registered as investigations continue.By the time of publication, the Luwero Hospital administration had not yet stated the arrests. The latest incident adds to a series of alleged extortion cases that have put Luwero General Hospital under scrutiny despite the government’s salary enhancement for health workers.
In August 2025, police arrested a medical intern at the hospital over allegations of extorting two hundred and fifty thousand shillings from a patient’s family during childbirth.In 2024, the hospital terminated the internship of two medical students and placed another health worker under investigation over similar allegations of extortion. URN