Kampala — LIRA Hospital management has accused the district director of health services of confiscating their ambulance.

A team from the hospital yesterday told MPs that Peter Kusolo had used the ambulance for four years and attempts to recover it had proved futile.

Led by Jane Aceng, the medical superintendent, the team told MPs that the hospital operated without an ambulance until recently when the health ministry gave it one of the CHOGM ambulances.

The hospital serves a population of two million people from Lira, Apac, Dokolo, Amolatar, Oyam, Kotido and Abim districts.

Aceng was accompanied by Thomson Obong, an administrator and Simon Odepe, an accountant.

They were appearing before the parliamentary accounts committee to respond to queries raised in the Auditor General's report for the 2007 financial year.

Margaret Kiboijana ( NRM) advised Aceng to write to the health ministry indicating that Kusolo never returned the ambulance.

She argued that without written communication, the health ministry might think the ambulance was returned.

Aceng said when the hospital approached the district council, they sided with Kusolo.

"It is the council's responsibility to avail him with transport and not Lira Hospital," she said.