Health 23 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Apac Hospital Patients Face Bicycle Theft Crisis After Private Guards Removed
Patients at Apac General Hospital are reporting a surge in bicycle and motorcycle thefts following the removal of private attendants who previously managed bicycle parking for a small fee. The thefts are causing significant financial hardship for many who rely on bicycles for essential transport. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/patients-decry-rampant-bicycle-theft-at-apac-hospital-5606082
For many residents in Apac District, a bicycle represents more than just a mode of transportation; it’s a vital tool for livelihoods, a means to reach distant locations, and sometimes, their only option for emergency medical transport.
However, visiting Apac General Hospital has now become a precarious endeavor. Patients are increasingly losing their bicycles and motorcycles while seeking medical care, a problem that has escalated since August.
Apac Resident District Commissioner Andrew Onyuk ordered the removal of private bicycle attendants, who charged between Shs500 and Shs1,000, stating that government-paid askaris should provide security. This decision, intended to stop perceived “extortion,” has left patients vulnerable.
“They chased away the keepers saying they were extorting patients, but now we are suffering more,” lamented Caroline Akello, a mother from Chegere Sub-county. She lost her bicycle last week while her daughter was in the maternity ward, leaving her unable to repay a borrowed vehicle or get home.
Joseph Ebong, another resident, shared a similar story of his daughter’s bicycle disappearing while she was inside seeking treatment for an injured sibling. Boda boda riders at the hospital claim that an average of 3-4 bicycles are stolen weekly, with one motorcycle theft reported last month.
Francis Okello, a boda boda operator, recounted witnessing an elderly man weeping after his bicycle was stolen during his child’s medical treatment. Security concerns at the hospital are not new; the Medical Superintendent, Dr. James Okullu, previously highlighted incidents, including a stranger entering the operating theatre.
Harriet Nelly Akello, chairperson of the Apac District Local Government committee for social services, stated that the issue will be presented to the district council for a permanent resolution.