Man jailed for six months for pretending to be a doctor at Muhimbili National Hospital

Dar es Salaam. The Kariakoo Primary Court has sentenced 26-year-old John Batebuye to six months in prison after he was found guilty of impersonating a doctor at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH).

Batebuye, a resident of Kigamboni, was apprehended at the renowned hospital in Upanga, Dar es Salaam, on March 11, 2025. 

Despite knowing he was not a qualified doctor, he was found attempting to deceive hospital staff by posing as a medical professional.

The sentence was delivered on Thursday, March 13, 2025, by Magistrate Scholastic Odoyo, following Batebuye's confession to the charges. 

The case was brought to court for the first time, and upon hearing the charge, the defendant admitted to the offence, which led to his conviction.

"The defendant has been found guilty as charged, and this court sentences you to six months in prison as a lesson to others with similar behaviour," Magistrate Odoyo declared during the sentencing.

Before the verdict, Batebuye pleaded for a lighter sentence, citing his family’s dependence on him.

“Honourable Magistrate, I ask for your mercy to reduce my sentence. I will not repeat this, and I also have a family that depends on me,” he appealed.

The court clerk, Shabani Hamad, had earlier read the charge to the defendant, stating that Batebuye had committed the offence on the morning of March 11, 2025, at 8:00 AM at MNH, located in Ilala District. 

He was caught by the hospital’s Administrative Officer, Ramadhani Bakari, 45, who found Batebuye falsely claiming to be a doctor.

Upon his arrest, Batebuye admitted to Bakari that he was indeed posing as a doctor, despite knowing it was illegal and against Tanzanian laws.