Ex-Mulago ED sh14b case pre-trial hearing starts

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The pre-trial hearing of a case in which former Mulago hospital executive director Dr Baterana Byarugaba and six others are accused of causing a shillings 14 billion loss to the Government, starts today at the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption  Court.

Principal Magistrate Grade I Paul Mujuni is expected to handle the case. 

Chief state attorney Gloria Inzikuru is expected to prosecute the case, while lawyers David Kamukama, Joseph Luzige, John Musisi, Rogers Katunguka, Zahara Tumwikirize, Saad Seninde, and Enock Kaluba will defend the accused persons.

Byarugaba is jointly charged with the former senior hospital engineer Edward Kataha, former hospital senior accountant Charles Mwasa, former senior hospital administrator Kenneth Wafula, and senior procurement officer Christopher Okware.

Others are former procurement officer Adah Kamucunguzi, Setramaco International Ltd directors: Robert Wasike and Catherine Winfred Nabwire.

The accused, who are currently out on bail, have since denied the charges of abuse of office, contrary to section 11 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act and causing financial loss, contrary to section 20 (1) of the same Act.

The offence of causing financial loss attracts a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment, on conviction, while abuse of office elicits a seven-year jail term.

Allegation

It is alleged that Byarugaba, Nyeko and Mwasa, between 2019 and 2020, at Mulago Hospital, being employed by the Government and authorised users of the Integrated Financial Management system, abused their respective offices and flouted payment procedures by irregularly processing payment of over sh3b to Setramaco International limited.

The money was purportedly paid for the supply of consumables to be used in routine servicing and repair of large-scale sterilisation equipment of an alleged capacity of 1,500 litres, which never existed at the said hospital; an act was prejudicial to the interests of their employer.

Kataha and Okware, between 2019 and 2020, are accused of irregularly requisitioning three billion shillings to be paid to Setramaco, purportedly to supply consumables to be used in the routine sourcing of non-existent large-size autoclaves with an alleged capacity of 1,500 litres, without following established procedures. This is said to be an act that was prejudicial to the interests of their employer.

Furthermore, Wasike and Nabwire, being stakeholders and directors of Setramaco, allegedly have used their company to invoice Mulago hospital to pay shillings three billion for purported supplies of consumables for non-existent autoclaves with a capacity of 1,500 litres. This, according to documents, happened during financial years 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 at the offices of Setramaco.

According to the charges, the invoice generated by Wasike and Nabwire was based on fictitious supplies and, therefore, allegedly caused a loss to Mulago Hospital.

In another count, Byarugaba, Nyeko and Mwasa, between 2019 and 2020, allegedly irregularly processed shillings 1.5 billion for public payments without following proper procedures, thereby causing a loss to Mulago Hospital.

Also, Nabwire and Wasike allegedly used their company (Setramaco) and issued an invoice of shillings 1.5 billion claiming that it was payment for routine servicing of autoclaves that was undertaken by their company, whereas not.

The two are also accused of receiving a double payment of shillings 186.9 million allegedly for fixing molten blankets, guiding tapes and conveyor belts at Mulago, as well as receiving shillings 196.6 million in duplicate payments for allegedly relocating steam cooking pans yet no works were executed.

Kamucunguzi is being accused of flouting procurement procedures during the repair and servicing of sterilisation equipment at Mulago, Kawempe and Kiruddu hospitals, as well as the supply of consumables, resulting in an irregular award of a shilling 7.5 billion contract to Setramaco.