An x-ray technician in Fort-Portal has been arrested for alleged bribery.
Shaffik Higenyi, a radiographer at Fort Portal Referral hospital was arrested on Friday in connection with a 40,000 shilling bribe; he allegedly solicited from a patient identified as Rosemary Kabwongera, of Bulyambuzi B- Zone, in Kicwamba Sub County Kabarole district.
Kabwongera turned up at the hospital with complications in her stomach and was asked to go for X-Ray service on Monday. She was however asked to pay 40,000 shillings in order to see a purported doctor from Kampala.
Kabwongera’s pleaded that she needed the x-ray service but she did not have the money. The Radiographer on the other hand assured the sick woman that she would not get any assistance unless she coughs 40,000 shillings.
Disappointed and frustrated, the woman instead went and tipped a policeman about her ordeal.
CID detectives on Wednesday accompanied Kabwongera and observed how Higenyi demanded for the bribe. She paid the money and was allowed into the x-ray room which was occupied by a doctor from Fort-portal and not the one from Kampala.
Higenyi was arrested and found with much more money which he admitted that he had earned from the sale of X-ray envelopes.
Victor Chemo, the deputy CID officer says Higenyi will be taken to court to answer charges of soliciting a bribe from a patient.
This is the second time the Radiographer is landing into problems with the law.
In November 2010, and March 2011, he was remanded at Katojo government prison on same charges.
He allegedly asked for a 15,000shs bribe from Benon Twinomujuni, a UDPF soldier attached to Mbarara 2nd division Army barracks who had come for an X-ray check up.
