NEWS- The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda secretary Stephen Lutoti has come under fire for asking for bribes from universities teaching pharmacy in order to approve their curriculum.
According to a whistle-blower’s report, Lutoti has been using his powerful position to solicit bribes from universities in exchange for curriculum approvals.
“Busitema University, Finns Medical University, and others are just a few of the institutions reportedly targeted by this corrupt official. When these universities failed to meet his outrageous financial demands, they were subjected to delays and punitive measures” the whistle-blower says.
The report adds that the allegations are chilling and that money exchanged hands in secretive suburban locations, far from the public eye, and without any accountability in order to approve their curriculum.
The Secretary is also accused of deliberately delaying the release of exam results for interns who passed the pre-registration examinations of the Society.
“By holding onto these results for over a month, he manipulated the system to control the number of professionals entering the field, causing unnecessary delays and frustration for young pharmacists ready to serve the nation”. Report adds.
The whistle-blower further describes the actions of Lutoti as a cancer eating away at the very fabric of the profession noting that If urgent action is not taken, the Society, which should be a pillar of integrity in healthcare, risks plunging the pharmacy profession into ruin.
