Three more charged over Global Fund
THREE more people have been charged with embezzling sh130m from the Global Fund. They are Perez Tumwine Rwabushaija, the project coordinator of a Rukungiri-based organisation, Gender and Development Association, accountant Boaz Tumuhimbise and Andrew Musiime, a businessman of Nyankagyeme in Rukungir
By Edward Anyoli and Abou Kisige
THREE more people have been charged with embezzling sh130m from the Global Fund.
They are Perez Tumwine Rwabushaija, the project coordinator of a Rukungiri-based organisation, Gender and Development Association, accountant Boaz Tumuhimbise and Andrew Musiime, a businessman of Nyankagyeme in Rukungiri district.
Member of Parliament Winifred Masiko (Rukungiri), the organisation’s executive director, is also on the charge sheet.
But she did not appear in court, prompting the magistrate to issue a criminal summons for her to appear on November 7.
The three appeared before Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate Francis Kobusheshe and were remanded to Luzira Prison after denying the charges.
The magistrate said while his court had powers to grant bail to the accused on some charges, it would not do so because the charges included embezzlement over which he had no jurisdiction.
This brings to eight the number of suspects to be charged in connection with mismanaging the Global Fund.
Last week, Teddy Ssezi Cheeye, the director of economic monitoring in Internal Security Organisation, Fred Kavuma, the former production manager of the then Uganda Television, Bushenyi-based Faith Ruranga Nyindo, Flavia Mpirwe and Aloysius Rutindo were also charged.
Rwabushaija, Tumuhimbise and Musiime were charged with 34 counts relating to forgery, false accounting and embezzlement. The charges were connected to the Global Fund money their organisation received.
Yesterday, prosecutor Josephine Namatovu said the suspects, while employed as project coordinator and accountant with Gender and Development Association in Rukungiri embezzled sh130m by the virtue of their offices.
Prosecution further said on various dates in June 2004 and December 2005 in Rukungiri, the trio made false receipts claiming it was issued for airtime.
Namatovu said the suspects also forged a payment sheet headed Rugada Global Fund Malaria, claiming it was signed by 108 participants who attended a sensitisation and orientation workshop at Bwambara in Rukungiri district.
The prosecution said funds were received through other fraudulent means which included sensitisation and orientation of sub-county LCs, development staff and women council workshop, integration of messages into out reach sensitisation activities, all these process led to loss of money for workshops that were never carried out, according to prosecution.
On fraudulent accounting, prosecution said the accused in 2005 made false entries in the name of the same association.
THREE more people have been charged with embezzling sh130m from the Global Fund.
They are Perez Tumwine Rwabushaija, the project coordinator of a Rukungiri-based organisation, Gender and Development Association, accountant Boaz Tumuhimbise and Andrew Musiime, a businessman of Nyankagyeme in Rukungiri district.
Member of Parliament Winifred Masiko (Rukungiri), the organisation’s executive director, is also on the charge sheet.
But she did not appear in court, prompting the magistrate to issue a criminal summons for her to appear on November 7.
The three appeared before Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate Francis Kobusheshe and were remanded to Luzira Prison after denying the charges.
The magistrate said while his court had powers to grant bail to the accused on some charges, it would not do so because the charges included embezzlement over which he had no jurisdiction.
This brings to eight the number of suspects to be charged in connection with mismanaging the Global Fund.
Last week, Teddy Ssezi Cheeye, the director of economic monitoring in Internal Security Organisation, Fred Kavuma, the former production manager of the then Uganda Television, Bushenyi-based Faith Ruranga Nyindo, Flavia Mpirwe and Aloysius Rutindo were also charged.
Rwabushaija, Tumuhimbise and Musiime were charged with 34 counts relating to forgery, false accounting and embezzlement. The charges were connected to the Global Fund money their organisation received.
Yesterday, prosecutor Josephine Namatovu said the suspects, while employed as project coordinator and accountant with Gender and Development Association in Rukungiri embezzled sh130m by the virtue of their offices.
Prosecution further said on various dates in June 2004 and December 2005 in Rukungiri, the trio made false receipts claiming it was issued for airtime.
Namatovu said the suspects also forged a payment sheet headed Rugada Global Fund Malaria, claiming it was signed by 108 participants who attended a sensitisation and orientation workshop at Bwambara in Rukungiri district.
The prosecution said funds were received through other fraudulent means which included sensitisation and orientation of sub-county LCs, development staff and women council workshop, integration of messages into out reach sensitisation activities, all these process led to loss of money for workshops that were never carried out, according to prosecution.
On fraudulent accounting, prosecution said the accused in 2005 made false entries in the name of the same association.