The Acting Commissioner Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory (DGAL), Eric Atalao Dradrio has said that the machines for forensic investigations have broken down or expired due to lack of maintenance on them.
An article appearing in New Vision has detailed that the country’s forensic investigations could come to a halt anytime soon if nothing is done to repair and maintain the machines.
The commissioner revealed this information as he appealed to the members of parliament to consider increasing funding to the laboratories.
“Sometime we don’t have money to periodically service these machines,” Atalao said.
One problem that faces the laboratory is having old equipment. Some of the manufactures do not manufacture their spare parts anymore as the technology evolves.
Such outdated technology has forced the forensic department to still send samples to other countries such as India and South Africa.
The story is similar to neighbouring country Kenya, where the project to set up a modern forensics lab was engulfed in the Anglo Leasing scandal. This has stalled progress on establishing a laboratory in the country. But there are still efforts to establish one in Kenya.