Global Fund witness faints
Dec 16, 2005
A witness before the Global Fund tribunal collapsed yesterday and was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.
By Anne Mugisa and John Odyek
A witness before the Global Fund tribunal collapsed yesterday and was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.
Former Obote II Luweero District Commissioner, Nathan Karema, who was appearing for the second time before the Ogoola Commission, first fell forward and hit the microphone, before his accountant pulled him back into sitting position. Then he started shaking, sweating and his eyes rolled, prompting commissioner Dr. Margaret Mungherera to rush to his side to resuscitate him.
Justice James Ogoola abruptly adjourned the hearing. Mungherera removed Karema’s jacket, necktie and shirt. Karema was supported out of UMA Conference Hall and driven to International Air Ambulance (IAA) for treatment.
He collapsed due to high blood pressure, Dr. Mungherera said.
Before Karema collapsed, he had been trying to explain how he withdrew all the sh45m in three weeks, when it was meant to run activities for a whole year.
Sh10m was withdrawn on March 1, sh18m on March 7 and sh5m on March 10. The fourth installment of sh5m was withdrawn on March 14, while the last one of sh7.35m was withdrawn on March 21 this year. All the cheques were drawn in his name.
Karema, who had testified last week that he transferred the money to the account of his private hospital, Mbarara Community Hospital, yesterday he could not show the commission any document showing that he had deposited the money on the hospital account.
He said he had used the money for MATHIVCO, his community organisation, which he said was giving free services to prevent malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
MATHIVCO is an acronym for Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Concern. The commission asked him to explain a sh10m loan the hospital had incurred, which was offset with the Global Fund money. Karema said it was not a loan, but bridge finance advanced to MATHIVCO by the Bank of Baroda because the Global Funds hand delayed in bank for three weeks.
He said the money was given in the morning and the Global Fund money was transferred to the organisation’s account in the afternoon and the advance offset.
Karema also tried in vain to explain why he had to remove the Global Fund money from its account in advance of its intended activities.
In his last appearance, he said he had to put the money on his hospital’s account because he was due to travel to London to visit his family but wanted MATHIVCO to continue its work in his absence.
But yesterday, he said he did not travel to London and failed to explain why he withdrew all the money when he had to withdraw the money five times in three weeks when he did not travel.
“Again you are changing goal posts, Mr Karema and I am losing patience. This time I may be forced to take action,†Ogoola told Karema to which he replied, “I am sorry…†“Sorry is not enough. This is perjury… This is four-five lies in two days…,†Justice Ogoola observed. Earlier, Karema had assured the Commission that he could testify on the finance and therefore there was no need to swear in his accountant as witness. Ends
A witness before the Global Fund tribunal collapsed yesterday and was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.
Former Obote II Luweero District Commissioner, Nathan Karema, who was appearing for the second time before the Ogoola Commission, first fell forward and hit the microphone, before his accountant pulled him back into sitting position. Then he started shaking, sweating and his eyes rolled, prompting commissioner Dr. Margaret Mungherera to rush to his side to resuscitate him.
Justice James Ogoola abruptly adjourned the hearing. Mungherera removed Karema’s jacket, necktie and shirt. Karema was supported out of UMA Conference Hall and driven to International Air Ambulance (IAA) for treatment.
He collapsed due to high blood pressure, Dr. Mungherera said.
Before Karema collapsed, he had been trying to explain how he withdrew all the sh45m in three weeks, when it was meant to run activities for a whole year.
Sh10m was withdrawn on March 1, sh18m on March 7 and sh5m on March 10. The fourth installment of sh5m was withdrawn on March 14, while the last one of sh7.35m was withdrawn on March 21 this year. All the cheques were drawn in his name.
Karema, who had testified last week that he transferred the money to the account of his private hospital, Mbarara Community Hospital, yesterday he could not show the commission any document showing that he had deposited the money on the hospital account.
He said he had used the money for MATHIVCO, his community organisation, which he said was giving free services to prevent malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
MATHIVCO is an acronym for Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Concern. The commission asked him to explain a sh10m loan the hospital had incurred, which was offset with the Global Fund money. Karema said it was not a loan, but bridge finance advanced to MATHIVCO by the Bank of Baroda because the Global Funds hand delayed in bank for three weeks.
He said the money was given in the morning and the Global Fund money was transferred to the organisation’s account in the afternoon and the advance offset.
Karema also tried in vain to explain why he had to remove the Global Fund money from its account in advance of its intended activities.
In his last appearance, he said he had to put the money on his hospital’s account because he was due to travel to London to visit his family but wanted MATHIVCO to continue its work in his absence.
But yesterday, he said he did not travel to London and failed to explain why he withdrew all the money when he had to withdraw the money five times in three weeks when he did not travel.
“Again you are changing goal posts, Mr Karema and I am losing patience. This time I may be forced to take action,†Ogoola told Karema to which he replied, “I am sorry…†“Sorry is not enough. This is perjury… This is four-five lies in two days…,†Justice Ogoola observed. Earlier, Karema had assured the Commission that he could testify on the finance and therefore there was no need to swear in his accountant as witness. Ends