Compiled by Markson Omagor
eastnews.co.ug
The year was 2012 when Capt. Mike Mukula together with Gen. Jim Muhwezi was accused of embezzling billions of Gavi funds.
Mukula was particularly accused of inflating the amount Janet Museveni had asked for to facilitate activities of her office. Janet Museveni as it was found out asked for Shs54million only.
What transpired however is that Mukula authorized an inflated requisition from Shs54million to Shs263.8 million. The Mukula allegations very seriously hurt the standing of Mama Janet Museveni and ultimately the Presidency itself.
COMMENT: Whereas Mukula claimed the First Lady asked for money, it was Shs54million that was actually received by Mama Janet yet he authorized release of Shs263.8m.
QUESTION: Where was the Shs210 million going?
During prosecution the state presented evidence that The First Lady’s office received Shs54m and accounted for it. Where did the 210,000,000 go?
As it concluded, the presiding Magistrate found Mukula guilty of stealing the Shs210m and later banking it back with Bank of Uganda after investigations started.
Chief Magistrate, Irene Akankwasa of the Anti-Corruption Court found Mukula guilty of embezzling of Shs 210m of the Global Alliance Vaccine (GAVI) and sentenced him to four years in prison.
EARLIER AS REPORTED BY DAILY MONITOR
Mukula claims giving Gavi Fund money to Janet Museveni
Tuesday November 13 2012
By ANTHONY WESAKA
First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni took Shs54 million which was part of the money meant for Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI), the Anti-Corruption Court heard Tuesday.
The claim was made by former state health minister in charge of general duties Capt. Mike Mukula while defending himself over allegations that he stole Shs210 million from the GAVI Fund account.
“First I deny that I stole Shs210 million from the Gavi account, my duty with a clear recollection was that on 14th January, 2005 at Imperial Resort Hotel in Entebbe, in a meeting with the First Lady of the Republic of Uganda, Maama Janet Museveni, a verbal request was made to me in person to help her source funding to help her activities in mobilisation in the country for the good of the health of children, mothers and others,” said Capt. Mukula.
Capt. Mukula who is also the Soroti Municipality MP, told court presided over by Chief Magistrate Irene Akankwasa that he accepted the First Lady’s request before asking her to formalise by writing.
“I did accept to do so upon receipt of the formal request from her office. On the 31st of January 2005, a letter was forwarded to me signed by Madam Margaret Lalam, one of the senior private secretaries in the State House, actualising a formal request from Maama Janet Museveni with an attachment of a follow-up of the three proposed conferences,” he said.
He further said that in consultation with his then boss, Maj Gen. Jim Muhwezi, who was the health minister, the money was processed and paid.
The 56-year-old former minister said three vouchers were processed in different amounts; Shs136,890,000 million, Shs73,146,000million and Shs53,819,000 million totaling to Sh263,855,000 million, which he signed.
He said only Shs54 million was disbursed to the office of the first lady and Shs210 was re-banked on the GAVI Fund account in Bank of Uganda.
“I am aware that the Shs54 million was received and acknowledged by the First Lady’s office and it was accounted for,” Capt Mukula said.
Observer
The state alleges that, while serving as minister of state for Health (General Duties), Mukula requisitioned and signed for Shs 263.8m on behalf of the First Lady, Janet Museveni, which money was part of the GAVI Fund. The first lady reportedly accounted for Shs 54m, leaving a balance of Shs 210m, for which Mukula must account.
