Another Quack Doctor Arrested

Thomson Obong, the Principal hospital Administrator, told our reporter yesterday on Tuesday evening that, the suspect claimed to be one of the doctors of Soroti Referral Hospital.

John Richard Onaba, a resident of Kelim village, Kyere Sub County in Serere district is in trouble for conning patients at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital. Onaba was picked up by police on Tuesday on a tip off by patient attendants. Ayub Waiswa, the officer in charge of Criminal Investigations Soroti district says that Onaba has been impersonating doctors at the hospital to con his victims.

He claims the suspect has been passing off as Emmanuel Onaba, Richard Okiria and Emmanuel Okwii. Waiswa says the suspect has been extorting between 20,000 to 70,000 shillings from his victims with promises of helping them to access medical services easily. He says Onaba will be charged with impersonation, Extortion and obtaining money by false pretence.
Onaba who is currently being held at Soroti Police station claims to be a second year student at Makerere University. Thomson Obong, the Principal Administrator Soroti Regional Referral Hospital says the suspect extorted money from patients who were desperately in need of help claiming that he would operate them.

Obong explains that the suspect would tell the patients that part of the money would help him to procure medicine for them. He says that during the arrest, the suspect was found in possession of medical forms of patients from Soroti, Serere, Mulago Hospital and other medical centers in Kampala. Obong says they have been receiving complaints from patients about quacks but this is the first one a suspect has been netted.
Charles Okaru, a resident of Oregia village in Asuret sub county in Soroti district says the suspect approached him on Monday night claiming to be a doctor. He allegedly asked for 70,000 shillings meant for operating his sister Celina Lucy Anawo.

Anawo is currently admitted in the maternity ward pending an operation.