Nursing officer charged over unauthorised surgery

John Bosco Otim, 37, an assistant nursing officer at Atutur General Hospital in the dock at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court over allegations of conducting an unauthorized surgical procedure and performing a negligent act likely to spread infection. PHOTO | JULIET KIGONGO.

An assistant nursing officer has been charged before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court over allegations of illegally practicing medicine, conducting an unauthorized surgical procedure, and performing a negligent act likely to spread infection.

John Bosco Otim, 37, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ritah Neube Kidasa, who read out the charges to him. Otim denied all the accusations.

Prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Grace Amy, told court that investigations into the matter are still ongoing. The court remanded Otim until March 2.

According to the charge sheet, Otim, an assistant nursing officer and resident of Bukedea Town Council in Bukedea District, faces three counts arising from events at Atutur General Hospital in Kumi District.

The first count is practicing without a license, contrary to Sections 24(1) and 53 of the Nurses and Midwives Act, Cap 301. Prosecution alleges that from March 31, 2014, to date, Otim worked as an assistant nursing officer at Atutur General Hospital without obtaining a valid practicing license from the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council.

The second count is practicing without registration or authority, contrary to Section 47(b)(f) of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, Cap 300. The prosecution states that on April 30, 2025, while employed as an assistant nursing officer at Atutur General Hospital, Otim performed a surgical procedure on a patient, Aisu Micheal, beyond his scope of practice, without being registered or authorized as a medical practitioner.

The third count accuses Otim of committing a negligent act likely to spread infection and disease, contrary to Section 154 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 128. It is alleged that on the same date, Otim unlawfully and negligently conducted a surgical procedure on Aisu in a room that was not designated as an operating theatre and lacked the required sterile surgical instruments, knowing or having reason to believe that his actions were likely to spread diseases dangerous to life.

Court documents indicate that the case originated from information received by the State House Health Monitoring Unit from the leadership of Atutur General Hospital and the alleged victim, Aisu Micheal. The information pointed to alleged unprofessional conduct involving an unsanctioned surgical procedure carried out on April 30, 2025, while Aisu was admitted at the hospital.

Following receipt of the information, the State House Health Monitoring Unit team proceeded to Kumi District as part of its health service delivery monitoring activities to verify the allegations. The matter was registered under a General Enquiry File to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged conduct of the staff member deployed at Atutur General Hospital.

"On May 2, 2025, the team carried out an intelligence-led operation during the night, leading to the arrest of Otim. He was subsequently detained at Kumi Central Police Station," reads in part the court documents.

According to the court documents, Otim, while recording his statement, acknowledged conducting the surgical procedure on Aisu Micheal, which procedure was beyond his scope of practice as an assistant nursing officer. Records indicated that his license expired on December 31, 2014.

"Investigations further revealed that the patient’s attendant allegedly paid Otim Shs100,000 after initially believing he was a doctor. The money was reportedly requested by Otim to enable him to carry out the procedure," court documents further read.

To confirm the identity of the person who conducted the surgery and received the payment, investigators organized an identification parade. According to the brief facts, the victim identified Otim as the individual who performed the operation.

The prosecution also indicated that Otim had previously been warned on several occasions by hospital supervisors and district authorities over alleged absconding from duty.