KASANDA District, (UGNEWSLINE) – Police are holding three people, including two Village Health Team members, over the suspected theft of mosquito nets meant for distribution to communities under a government public health programme.
Two bales of mosquito nets believed to have been stolen were recovered during an operation in Kassanda District, according to the Uganda Police Force.
The arrests come as the government relies on mosquito net distribution as part of efforts to prevent malaria, one of Uganda’s major public health challenges. The suspected diversion of supplies intended for households could undermine efforts to protect vulnerable communities against mosquito bites and malaria infection.
The case was reported at Kakungube Police Station on 27 October by Nsibuka Rashid, a 40-year-old town chief of Kyanamugera Parish in Nalutuntu Sub-county, Kassanda District.
Police said investigations launched after the complaint led to the arrest of Najuma Asia, a Village Health Team member; Kyaka Ronald, the area chairperson of Kyanamugera Village; and Ssezi Herbert, another Village Health Team member.
The two recovered bales of mosquito nets are suspected to be part of the supplies intended for public distribution. Police did not specify the number of nets involved, their estimated value or where they were allegedly taken from.
The three suspects have been interviewed, and police said the case file was being prepared for submission to the relevant authorities for prosecution.
The arrests have not resulted in any conviction, and the suspects remain subject to the legal process. Police have not disclosed whether the individuals have been formally charged in court.
In a statement, the Uganda Police Force in Kassanda said it was committed to protecting government programmes and ensuring essential public health supplies reach their intended beneficiaries.
Police also urged members of the public to report suspected theft, diversion or misuse of government-distributed items to the nearest police station.
Mosquito nets are a key component of malaria prevention, particularly for children and pregnant women, who face an increased risk of severe illness. Their effectiveness depends not only on procurement and distribution but also on ensuring that the supplies reach the households for which they are intended.
The Kassanda investigation highlights the importance of accountability in the handling of publicly funded health commodities, although police have yet to establish in court whether the recovered nets were unlawfully diverted or the precise circumstances surrounding their recovery.
