‘Arrest Police surgeons who charge medical examination fees on victims’- IGP

By SM News Reporter

Kampala, Uganda: “Any Police Surgeon who asks money to carry out medical examinations on a crime victim, should be charged with extortion,” the Inspector General of Police, John Martin Okoth Ochola has directed.

The order follows public outcry regarding the exorbitant fees muted on victims of rape, assault, defilement and or rape by the police surgeons.

ShiftMedia News has in its investigations established that many privately owned clinics, in Nakawa, Kalerwe, Najjanakumbi, Makindye among others are affiliated to the police to carry out medical tests on behalf of the police. These facilities (privately owned) are recommended by top police officers spread across various police divisions.

The charges range from medical facility to facility, but normal rates for rape range between shs70,000 to 100,000, while assault cases range between shs15,000- 30, 000 shillings.

Ochola said these medical check- ups are supposed to be free, because they are already paid for by government.

“Any police surgeon who asks for money before conducting a medical check on a victim, must be arrested for extortion,” ordered Ochola.

He also director the CID to probe claims of extortion regarding the same by the police surgeons.

Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga says that the Inspector General of Government has now directed the CIID boss Grace Akullo to establish the authenticity of the reports and ensure that the culprits are brought to book.

Enanga urged people who have been charged any amount of money in order to be examined by police surgeons to avail information to police, adding that it is unfair to charge a victim of any crime, for a service that should be provided free of charge.

Last year the IGP banned the selling of Police medical forms but the media a few months ago reported that victims were still being charged for the same at a cost of 1,000 to 2,000 Shillings.