Police in the Southern Province are holding the Director of Huye-based Kabutare Hospital, Dr Saleh Niyonzima, and the hospital accountant over allegations of embezzlement.

The arrests follow an audit exercise that was carried out in the hospital in September which revealed missing funds, according to sources.

Inspector of Police Eulade Gakwaya, the acting spokesperson of Police in the Southern Province, confirmed the arrests, saying the duo was apprehended on September 30 and was being held at Ngoma Police Station in Huye District.

"They were arrested in connection with embezzlement of hospital funds,” he said.

"Police compiled a dossier and submitted it to the prosecution but investigations are still ongoing,” he said.

The law provides that Police make a dossier within five days after the arrest of a suspect and pass it on to the Prosecution for further action.

Gakwaya said the amount of money thought to have been embezzled will be established after the investigations.The duo met prosecution officials on Monday, he added.

Meanwhile, Police are still hunting for the hospital administrator, another suspect in the case.

The arrest comes days after the hospital on September 28, announced that it needed Rwf80 million to pay workers August salary.

Dr Niyonzima told journalists then that the salary delays were due to Health Insurance Scheme (Mutuelle de Santé) arrears.

He explained that the hospital had used Rwf29 million from government to buy medicine in July but when it sent receipts to Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), for refund, the latter delayed to disburse the money to the hospital.

He announced this after the Minister for Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho visited the hospital, where she held a meeting with the hospital staff and the directors of health centres in Huye District.

Speaking at the meeting then, the minister said there is a need for concerted effort among local government entities to ensure timely payment of health insurance premiums.

It is understood the government usually provides funds to complement health insurance in covering health workers’ salaries in health facilities.

It is estimated that the health insurance scheme owe Kabutare Hospital up to Rwf300 million in arrears.

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