Kampala — Three senior health ministry officials were yesterday arrested for allegedly causing loss of drugs worth sh2b.

Dr. Richard Ndyomugyenyi, the programme manager of the Malaria control programme, his deputy Dr. Myers Lugemwa and the administrative manager, Martin Shibek, were arrested last evening.

The spokesperson of the medicine and health service delivery monitoring unit, Frank Byaruhanga, said Ndyomugyenyi is being charged with neglect of duty.

"He failed to ensure proper management and distribution of anti-malarial drugs by the health ministry," said Byaruhanga.

He was addressing journalists at the Central Police Station, Kampala yesterday.

He said Lugemwa and Shibek led to the requisition and distribution of anti-malarial drugs, for the purpose of illicitly obtaining benefits for themselves or for third parties. The lost drugs include arco, coartem and duocotexin.

The unit, headed by Dr. Diana Atwine, started investigating the Uganda Malaria Research Centre following irregularities in the documentation for anti-malarial drugs as regards stock movement.

The centre is headed by a research officer, Dr James Sekitoleko, and is under the malaria control programme.

"While it was possible to ascertain the quantities of drugs leaving the centre for the national malaria control programme, there is no corresponding record of receipt," explained the unit.

The unit was created under the orders of President Yoweri Museveni last year.