By Taddeo Bwambale

KAMPALA - The Police have again summoned city tycoon Karim Hirji in connection with another workshop purportedly organized by the health ministry at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.

Karim is scheduled to appear at the Special Investigations Unit in Kireka today for allegedly causing financial loss and conspiracy to defraud the Government. He is the proprietor of Imperial Royale Hotel.

This is the second time in less than two months that the businessman is being quizzed over alleged ghost workshops organized by ministries at his hotel.

Sources revealed that the Police are questioning how sh140m was spent on another ghost workshop purportedly held at the hotel on November 9, 2011 by the health ministry.

Karim has been tasked to present original documents backing the alleged payment. Earlier this month, he was interrogated by the Police over a sh76m workshop supposedly organised by the works ministry at the same hotel.

Investigations showed that the works ministry only booked a half-day workshop worth sh6m, but processed payment for a two-day residential workshop, which cost sh76m.

Investigations have revealed that although 20 people attended, the number was inflated to 48, suggesting some ‘rented’ participants.

Each participant reportedly bagged sh96,000 in daily allowances. Karim denied responsibility. The fi les have been sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Dr. Diana Atwine, the head of State House’s Medicines and Health Service Delivery Monitoring Unit, said investigations into fake workshops is going on, but declined to give details.