nuclear-news

In the leaked diplomatic cable, the US ambassador in Uganda, Mr Jerry Lanier, also warned that poor storage of the materials in the hospitals is risky and dangerous to Uganda’s security. The radiological materials, which were meant to treat cancer, were stolen from the store at the hospital by suspected robbers.

Mr Lanier said in the cable that the theft brought Uganda to the attention of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the American National Nuclear Security Administration.
“An August 24-26 visit from U.S. officials from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is the latest step in a joint US-Ugandan response to the theft of radiological material from a storage area at Mulago Hospital in Kampala in 2007,” Mr Lanier said.

The US government also had to offer to help and finance the construction of a permanent radiological source storage site. The leaked cable notes that in 2002 and 2003, two sources of Cesium 137 and Cobalt 60 were confiscated from illicit traffickers. These and other spent sources were stored in a 3 foot by 4 foot stand-alone storage area at Mulago Hospital. The cable stated that security at the storage area was limited to a padlock with no electronic-surveillance equipment.

In July 2007, thieves broke into the storage area and stole radiological sources placed there for safe keeping. Local authorities suspect the thieves were looking for something of value and were unaware of the radiological nature of the items taken…..

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1233646/-/bjam5oz/-/