{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Abim nurses still have to answer, insists CAO
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Abim nurses still have to answer, insists CAO
The Abim district chief administrative officer insists that the three nurses who took FDC presidential candidate Kizza Besigye on an impromptu tour of the area hospital must answer for their actions or be punished.
Speaking to The Observer by telephone on Thursday, three days after the expiry of his seven-day ultimatum to the nurses to explain their actions in writing, Moses Kaziba Nandhala said he had not received any formal communication from the central government instructing him to act otherwise.
"We are still waiting for their [the nurses'] responses," said Kaziba. "The decision whether to punish them or not has to come after their explanation. Administrators don't have predetermined conclusions. It depends on the defence."
He said he would wait for the nurses' response before forwarding their case to the district service commission to take appropriate action.
In his December 7, 2015 letter to Santina Adong, the senior nursing officer at Abim hospital, Kaziba said she had breached government standing orders, which bar public servants from engaging in partisan political activities or revealing "state secrets". Kaziba also cautioned nursing assistants Pasca Akello and Immaculate Owili. He asked the trio to explain their actions or face disciplinary action.
Earlier last week, the permanent secretary in the ministry of health, Dr Asuman Lukwago, had told journalists that the ministry would only subject the nurses to "a written warning" because they are first-time offenders.
On Friday, Dr Lukwago told The Observer by telephone that he had called Abim earlier in the week, only to find Kaziba out of office; he said he had left instructions with the deputy CAO and hinted that he expected them to be adhered to.
Kaziba's action against the nurses has attracted public condemnation, especially on social media, and even some government officials accused him of being overzealous. The story caught the attention of international media outlets such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and has seen several legal entities offer free services to the nurses to fight their indictments.
Besigye's visit to Abim revealed that the 200-bed hospital had not had a doctor for more than a year and lacked many other facilities.
Yesterday, Kaziba said the government released Shs 320 million in the second quarter of the current financial year, after which a contractor was got to renovate the hospital and a groundbreaking ceremony done recently ahead of starting work.
"It is now the contractor that has to start the work and he is mobilising materials," said Kaziba. "When he shows that he has done the work, we will pay for the work done."
In June, Kaziba had come under fire for failing to account for Shs 900 million, telling MPs that termites had eaten the receipts. He was subsequently suspended. However, he said last week that he had satisfactorily answered all the audit queries.
hobenon@observer.ug
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