By Mike Rwothomio

Dr. Charles Dradu, a dentist at Nebbi General Hospital, has been detained following allegations of heavy drinking during work hours.

His arrest came as a result of an oversight visit by a parliamentary health committee inspecting the hospital’s service delivery.

During their visit, the committee discovered Dr. Dradu visibly intoxicated while the group met with local leaders and hospital staff. This prompted immediate action from the health committee, leading to Dradu’s arrest.

Nebbi’s Resident District Commissioner, Robert Abak, expressed serious concerns about Dradu’s behaviour.
“This is not an isolated incident; he has repeatedly been caught drinking during work hours. We believe he may be struggling with addiction and possibly a mental health issue,” Abak said. He added, “Although he is known for his performance, we cannot allow a drunk individual to treat patients.”

Abak suggested that a rehabilitation program might be a more appropriate solution than imprisonment, given Dradu’s apparent struggles.
“Prison won’t address the root cause of his problem. We need to consider rehabilitation to help him recover,” Abak stated.

At the time of reporting, Dr. Dradu was being held at Nebbi Central Police Station. Dr. Joseph Ruyonga, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health and MP for Hoima West, emphasized that this incident should serve as a warning to all public servants about the importance of maintaining professionalism.

This arrest coincides with recent parliamentary debates over the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, which aimed to impose stricter regulations on alcohol production and consumption.

The bill, which proposed tighter restrictions and control measures, was recently rejected by Parliament.

Dr. Ruyonga warned that such incidents of misconduct undermine public trust and highlighted the need for adherence to professional standards.