Muhwezi aide contradicts boss at probe
Mar 24, 2006
MINISTER of health Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi’s personal assistant Simon Kagumire yesterday told the Global Fund probe commission that his boss did not travel to South Africa at $19,000 from the fund as he had testified.
By John Odyek, Milton Olupot & Jude Etyang
MINISTER of health Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi’s personal assistant Simon Kagumire yesterday told the Global Fund probe commission that his boss did not travel to South Africa at $19,000 from the fund as he had testified.
Kagumire said while Muhwezi was supposed to go to South Africa on May 15, 2004, the trip was not made, thereby contradicting Muhwezi who told the commission that he went to South Africa to campaign for Dr. Francis Omaswa’s candidature for a WHO job.
“The minister said this $19,800 was for only travel to South Africa and West Africa to campaign for Omaswa’s candidature, that it was a cabinet decision and that he was never told that the money was from the Global Fund. Did he go to South Africa?†Ogoola asked. Kagumire answered, “No!â€
Ogoola asked if Muhwezi told lies to the commission, to which Kagumire answered, “At least he did not go on the day that had been planned.â€
But Ogoola insisted that Kagumiire had been asked to bring documents to account for the trip. He said the trip was paradoxical because Muhwezi had used the itinerary to South Africa to go to New York. The destination was to South Africa and Nigeria but the commission was perturbed that Muhwezi instead travelled to New York, London and Dubai.
“Things don’t add up. The question is why did he use the itinerary to South Africa to go to New York? This complicates the issue. You are simply adding enigma to a paradox. There was only a paradox but it’s becoming enigmatic,†said Ogoola.
Kagumire said the South Africa trip was cancelled so Muhwezi (right) could attend the 12th UN convention on sustainable development in New York.
Although the Government paid back the $19,000 (sh30m) to the Global Fund, Ogoola said it was wrong because it was a hassle for the Government to pay back.
He cited sh30m which the Government has never paid back. He said sh40m borrowed in January 2005 for former minister Matthew Rukikaire’s treatment for malaria in Nairobi was only paid this Tuesday after pressure from the probe.
“In fact it wasn’t ever refunded at all. It’s only after I ordered you to produce the receipt that the PS run out like a chicken without feathers to look for the receipt exactly one year and three months since the money was borrowed,†said Ogoola.
Kagumiire, Muhwezi’s escort Benard Bainomugisha and driver Muhumza jointly appeared before the probe but failed to account for sh20m supervision trips Muhwezi made at the expense of the fund.
Muhwezi said, as a minister, it was not his duty to account for the trips but his technical staff and PS Muhammad Kezaala.
There were accountability reports, no fuel receipts for the trips, and general reports about the supervision of malaria and AIDS programmes across the country.
The three appeared for two days consecutively starting on Wednesday afternoon and yesterday.
The commission on Wednesday expressed shock at the way Kagumire and Bainomugisha were receiving millions of shillings on Muhwezi’s behalf without accountability. Ogoola, the probe chair, warned Kagumire of action for lying on oath.
“Do you know the truth? Do you know you have sworn an oath? Have the decency to tell the truth. If you keep dancing around with the truth, I will be forced to take action. Ask your counsel to tell you the consequences,†Ogoola warned.
Kagumire said on Wednesday he received sh800,000 from the Global Fund allowance for Muhwezi’s telecommunication. He said he gave the money to Muhwezi’s bodyguard in April 2004. But Muhwezi denied getting the money.
Bainomugisha also said he could not have received the money as he had stopped working for the minister by that time and resumed in September 2004.
The commission presented documents, which showed that in December 2004 Muhwezi received sh36.6m. Kagumire said it was Bainomugisha who received the money. But Bainomugisha, an Internal Security Organisation officer, said he signed for only sh6.5m. Changing statements, Kagumire said it was Dan Kalule, the personal assistant of state minister for health Mike Mukula, who signed for the sh36.6m for Muhwezi, Mukula and state minister Dr. Alex Kamugisha.
Kagumire said allowances that were received by ministers were not accounted for. But commissioner Lydia Obonyo retorted: “allowances are not accounted for but acknowledged as receivedâ€.
The commission presented fuel receipts, which showed huge amounts of fuel being bought for Muhwezi’s vehicle. Kagumire said he signed money for fuel and gave it to Muhwezi’s driver of 12 years, Muhumuza. But Muhumuza said whenever fuel was needed, Muhwezi bought it. Commissioner Margaret Mungherera said the handwriting for fuel receipts from the eastern, central and western districts was the same, indicating they were forged.
Ends
MINISTER of health Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi’s personal assistant Simon Kagumire yesterday told the Global Fund probe commission that his boss did not travel to South Africa at $19,000 from the fund as he had testified.
Kagumire said while Muhwezi was supposed to go to South Africa on May 15, 2004, the trip was not made, thereby contradicting Muhwezi who told the commission that he went to South Africa to campaign for Dr. Francis Omaswa’s candidature for a WHO job.
“The minister said this $19,800 was for only travel to South Africa and West Africa to campaign for Omaswa’s candidature, that it was a cabinet decision and that he was never told that the money was from the Global Fund. Did he go to South Africa?†Ogoola asked. Kagumire answered, “No!â€
Ogoola asked if Muhwezi told lies to the commission, to which Kagumire answered, “At least he did not go on the day that had been planned.â€
But Ogoola insisted that Kagumiire had been asked to bring documents to account for the trip. He said the trip was paradoxical because Muhwezi had used the itinerary to South Africa to go to New York. The destination was to South Africa and Nigeria but the commission was perturbed that Muhwezi instead travelled to New York, London and Dubai.
“Things don’t add up. The question is why did he use the itinerary to South Africa to go to New York? This complicates the issue. You are simply adding enigma to a paradox. There was only a paradox but it’s becoming enigmatic,†said Ogoola.
Kagumire said the South Africa trip was cancelled so Muhwezi (right) could attend the 12th UN convention on sustainable development in New York.
Although the Government paid back the $19,000 (sh30m) to the Global Fund, Ogoola said it was wrong because it was a hassle for the Government to pay back.
He cited sh30m which the Government has never paid back. He said sh40m borrowed in January 2005 for former minister Matthew Rukikaire’s treatment for malaria in Nairobi was only paid this Tuesday after pressure from the probe.
“In fact it wasn’t ever refunded at all. It’s only after I ordered you to produce the receipt that the PS run out like a chicken without feathers to look for the receipt exactly one year and three months since the money was borrowed,†said Ogoola.
Kagumiire, Muhwezi’s escort Benard Bainomugisha and driver Muhumza jointly appeared before the probe but failed to account for sh20m supervision trips Muhwezi made at the expense of the fund.
Muhwezi said, as a minister, it was not his duty to account for the trips but his technical staff and PS Muhammad Kezaala.
There were accountability reports, no fuel receipts for the trips, and general reports about the supervision of malaria and AIDS programmes across the country.
The three appeared for two days consecutively starting on Wednesday afternoon and yesterday.
The commission on Wednesday expressed shock at the way Kagumire and Bainomugisha were receiving millions of shillings on Muhwezi’s behalf without accountability. Ogoola, the probe chair, warned Kagumire of action for lying on oath.
“Do you know the truth? Do you know you have sworn an oath? Have the decency to tell the truth. If you keep dancing around with the truth, I will be forced to take action. Ask your counsel to tell you the consequences,†Ogoola warned.
Kagumire said on Wednesday he received sh800,000 from the Global Fund allowance for Muhwezi’s telecommunication. He said he gave the money to Muhwezi’s bodyguard in April 2004. But Muhwezi denied getting the money.
Bainomugisha also said he could not have received the money as he had stopped working for the minister by that time and resumed in September 2004.
The commission presented documents, which showed that in December 2004 Muhwezi received sh36.6m. Kagumire said it was Bainomugisha who received the money. But Bainomugisha, an Internal Security Organisation officer, said he signed for only sh6.5m. Changing statements, Kagumire said it was Dan Kalule, the personal assistant of state minister for health Mike Mukula, who signed for the sh36.6m for Muhwezi, Mukula and state minister Dr. Alex Kamugisha.
Kagumire said allowances that were received by ministers were not accounted for. But commissioner Lydia Obonyo retorted: “allowances are not accounted for but acknowledged as receivedâ€.
The commission presented fuel receipts, which showed huge amounts of fuel being bought for Muhwezi’s vehicle. Kagumire said he signed money for fuel and gave it to Muhwezi’s driver of 12 years, Muhumuza. But Muhumuza said whenever fuel was needed, Muhwezi bought it. Commissioner Margaret Mungherera said the handwriting for fuel receipts from the eastern, central and western districts was the same, indicating they were forged.
Ends