The executive director of Mulago National Referral Hospital, Dr Byarugaba Baterana who was on Tuesday arrested by the State House Health Monitoring Unit over abuse of office has now been interdicted from duty.
In an interdiction letter to him by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine, Byarugaba has been ordered to handover office to his Deputy Dr Rosemary Byanyima.
Immediately after his arrest on Tuesday, The Health Monitoring Unit director, Dr Warren Namara said Byarugaba had been arrested to aid investigations into
concerns about management of Mulago National Referral Hospital and the quality of services rendered to Ugandans.
It was later established that Byarugaba was actually held by the unit on allegations of acts financial impropriety and abuse of office by virtue of his office in the last four financial years.
Police has since charged him with abuse of office, embezzlement causing financial loss and fraudulent false accounting.
Now, as the investigations progress, the interdicted Mulago hospital boss will be receiving half pay, according to the letter.
“…. you are hereby interdicted from duty to pave way for investigations and you will receive half pay with immediate effect until the charges against you are cleared,” reads the letter in part.
“You are therefore required to handover your work and office yo your Deputy Director Dr Rosemary Byanyima in accordance with Section F – d(4) of the Public Service Standing Orders and keep away from your duty station until you are advised otherwise,” adds Dr Atwine in the letter.
Dr Byarugaba has also been barred from leaving the country without permission.