Global Fund probe team queries Mukula aide

Mar 24, 2006

The commission of inquiry into the mismanagement of the Global Fund has questioned health state minister Mike Mukula’s personal assistant about the minister’s controversial trips.

By John Odyek and Jude Etyang

The commission of inquiry into the mismanagement of the Global Fund has questioned health state minister Mike Mukula’s personal assistant about the minister’s controversial trips.

Samuel Baraza, Mukula’s personal assistant, who appeared before the commission on Thursday, said he did not know that Global Fund money was being used to finance the ‘political supervision’ trips upcountry to dispense ‘political medicine’.

Lead Counsel Philip Karugaba said when Baraza writes a memo that the minister was touring Global Fund activities and after receiving money from Global Fund several times for the trips, he would know it was Global Fund money.

“What you want the public to believe is that you make requests for money without knowing budget lines?” Karugaba asked.

Baraza retorted, “As we requisition for money, we don’t know where the source is. What I have known is money is never enough for ministers’ travel,” he said.

The commission queried Baraza why receipts for trips had wrong dates, had the same handwriting, had no names of recipients of money, but had titles such as body guard, driver, journalists, senior personal secretary and minister.

Baraza hastily replied, “The receipts are for the original plans which were there. The person made them before the trips were made.”

commissioner emma-nuel Mutebile said, “The receipts are forged and the trips did not take place.”

Ogoola said, “These activities you are doing calling supervision don’t reflect Global Fund activities. Don’t requisition for Global Fund money. Tell the minister there is no money. Requisition from the Ministry of Health budget.”

The commission presented documents, which showed that the minister used sh2.9m for a trip to Apac, Gulu, Lira and Pader in January 2004.

Baraza said out of this money he signed for sh900,000 for fuel but the vehicles for the trip were fuelled at the pool of the Ministry of Health.

Ogoola observed, “The sh900,000 given for fuel must be refunded. There is no other receipt for fuel. Whoever accounted for this must pay the sh900,000 and he committed forgery of receipts.”

Another trip was documented as made by the minister to Kotido, Moroto and Nakapiripirit.

But Baraza said the minister did not travel to Kotido and Nakapiripirit because of insecurity caused by Karimojong cattle rustlers.

He said the minister remained at Mbale and he represented the minister in Kotido and Nakapiripirit.

Ogoola said it was surprising that Baraza signed for sh5,312,000 for the minister and accounted exactly that.

The money was intended to inspect TB centres in Mbale, Sironko, Nakapiripirit and Kotido.

“You went away with sh5,312,000 and account exactly for it. Not a penny more, not a penny less on a trip where you went to two districts instead of four. You were creating opportunities to spend Global Fund money by staying more days in Mbale,” Ogoola said.

Ogoola said it was wrong for Baraza to undertake a risky political trip on behalf of the minister. “The minister should not have abdicated on his duty. It was not your fault but sending a non-politician on a political duty and to spend Global Fund money was wrong. The minister reaches Mbale and gets cold feet. What does he arm you with? Two Arrow boys against all Karimojong warriors?” Ogoola asked.

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