The Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Pece-Laroo Division in Gulu City, Peter Banya, on Tuesday morning arrested a clinical officer who was allegedly drunk while on duty at the children’s ward of Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.
The suspect, identified as Ambrose Otim, was reportedly found in a drunken state during working hours, despite dozens of children waiting in the queue for medical care.
Banya said his intervention followed a tip-off from concerned individuals who were worried about the safety of patients under Otim’s care.
“I found him clearly under the influence of alcohol. He was unfit to work and posed a direct threat to the lives of the children in the ward,” Banya stated. “I had no option but to arrest him immediately to safeguard the patients.”
Walter Uryek-Wun, the Principal Assistant Secretary at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, condemned Otim’s conduct, calling it highly unprofessional and a risk to quality healthcare delivery.
“It’s dangerous for a health worker to attend to patients while intoxicated,” Uryek-Wun noted. “This behaviour violates the Public Service Standing Orders, which strictly prohibit civil servants from being on duty while drunk.”
He revealed that this was not the first incident involving Otim’s alcohol-related misconduct.
According to Uryek-Wun, Otim had previously been interdicted over similar behaviour and had only recently resumed work after undergoing rehabilitation at Butabika Hospital.
“While he had shown signs of improvement, this relapse is concerning. We’re now considering retirement in the public interest, even as we explore another rehabilitation option,” he added.
Uryek-Wun further questioned how Otim managed to access the children’s ward in such a state, saying the hospital is investigating a possible lapse in supervision. The person in charge of the ward at the time has since been put on notice.
By press time, Otim remained in custody at Gulu Central Police Station, pending further disciplinary and legal action.
