Court suspends health PS Lukwago arrest

By Edward Anyoli    

The Constitutional  Court  Tuesday  suspended   a warrant of arrest  against ministry  of health  permanent  secretary  Dr. Asuman  Lukwago  who  is accused of  attempted theft of sh2b.

State Attorney Lillian Omara from Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) told the Anti- Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Irene Akankwasa   that she received an order suspending Lukwago’s arrest.

The  Court  on  May 19, issued  an arrest warrant for Lukwago  to appear in  court on July 2, after  he  had failed  to respect the previous  criminal  summon issued against him.

Lukwago, however, filed a petition in the Constitutional Court challenging his trial by the Director of Public Prosecution.

The   hearing presided by Justice Steven Kavuma suspended the warrant of arrest until the petition Lukwago filed is concluded. The order suspending the arrest is dated July 2.

“The warrant of arrest issued against the applicant (Dr. Lukwago) is suspended until the ruling is delivered or until such other further orders as court may issue,” the order reads in part.

It is alleged that  Lukwago being an accounting officer  in the ministry of health  failed to execute his duties  under Public Finance  and accountability  act when he failed  to ensure  the propriety  of expenditure of ministry  of  health  by signing  security papers number 186271 authorising  Bank of Uganda to credit  a fraudulent  bank account  in the names of National Medical Stores.

It further alleged that Lukwago, assistant commissioner Ponziano Nyeko and Alex Gumisiriza (finance manager) being employees of ministry of health attempted to steal $462,399.53(aboutsh2b) Global fund money meant to fight malaria.