Police quizzes Mukula over perjury
Sep 23, 2008
DETECTIVES at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Kampala yesterday interrogated former health state minister Mike Mukula for close to three hours in connection with lying under oath (perjury).
By Herbert Ssempogo
DETECTIVES at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Kampala yesterday interrogated former health state minister Mike Mukula for close to three hours in connection with lying under oath (perjury).
Mukula joined his lawyer, Fred Muwema, at Kibuli just after 9:00am.
They proceeded to the office of the CID deputy director, Moses Balimwoyo, who is in charge of crime investigation.
Mukula was then led to the anti-corruption office where four officers, led by economic crimes chief Hillary Odoch, questioned him over the alleged lies he told a commission of inquiry headed by Justice James Ogoola.
The commission was appointed in 2006 to probe the misappropriation of Global Fund money meant to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Muwema and Mukula, the former Soroti municipality MP, emerged at about 12:30pm after the latter recorded a statement, which the Police described as “plainâ€.
He is expected to record an additional statement next Tuesday.
Mukula, according to Ogoola’s Commission, lied that he went to six areas to monitor the Global Fund activities yet he went there for political-related activities.
But Muwema told journalists that Mukula visited Kitgum, Sembabule, Kumi, Kalangala, Kyamuswa and Sigulu to monitor Global Fund activities. He added that his client would next Tuesday produce evidence.
The Police, he disclosed, did not prefer any charges against Mukula, who is also the NRM vice-chairman in charge of Eastern Uganda.
“I am happy that the Police have started investigating this matter. We are optimistic that the truth will come out,†Muwema told journalists.
Mukula maintained that the Government White Paper on Global Fund, a copy of which he waved, absolved him of misusing any money.
“The guns should be turned to the people who are corrupt. The people of Uganda need to know that I am clean. These are trumped-up political allegations meant to cause a storm in a tea cup.â€
He added that witnesses in the areas he allegedly visited would testify.
“I have enough evidence to prove that I went to those places.â€
Former health minister Jim Muhwezi and Mukula are accused of telling lies under oath while appearing before Ogoola’s commission.
The Ogoola Commission found that Muhwezi personally intervened in the recruitment of staff for the Project Management Unit of the Global Fund, thereby disregarding recommendations by the consultancy firm and contributing to the ‘management disaster that was waiting to happen’.
The commission documented numerous irregularities in the spending of the funds, including exorbitant staff allowances, procurement flaws and money for trips of the ministers that were not related to Global Fund activities or never took place. It further points at dubious foreign exchange transactions with dfcu Bank.
President Yoweri Museveni appointed the Ogoola commission after reports that the money had been misappropriated. Ogoola’s team recommended that the two be investigated for abuse of office and perjury.
Muhwezi was at Kibuli on Monday but was not interrogated as his lawyer was absent. He is expected to reappear before the CID tomorrow.
DETECTIVES at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Kampala yesterday interrogated former health state minister Mike Mukula for close to three hours in connection with lying under oath (perjury).
Mukula joined his lawyer, Fred Muwema, at Kibuli just after 9:00am.
They proceeded to the office of the CID deputy director, Moses Balimwoyo, who is in charge of crime investigation.
Mukula was then led to the anti-corruption office where four officers, led by economic crimes chief Hillary Odoch, questioned him over the alleged lies he told a commission of inquiry headed by Justice James Ogoola.
The commission was appointed in 2006 to probe the misappropriation of Global Fund money meant to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Muwema and Mukula, the former Soroti municipality MP, emerged at about 12:30pm after the latter recorded a statement, which the Police described as “plainâ€.
He is expected to record an additional statement next Tuesday.
Mukula, according to Ogoola’s Commission, lied that he went to six areas to monitor the Global Fund activities yet he went there for political-related activities.
But Muwema told journalists that Mukula visited Kitgum, Sembabule, Kumi, Kalangala, Kyamuswa and Sigulu to monitor Global Fund activities. He added that his client would next Tuesday produce evidence.
The Police, he disclosed, did not prefer any charges against Mukula, who is also the NRM vice-chairman in charge of Eastern Uganda.
“I am happy that the Police have started investigating this matter. We are optimistic that the truth will come out,†Muwema told journalists.
Mukula maintained that the Government White Paper on Global Fund, a copy of which he waved, absolved him of misusing any money.
“The guns should be turned to the people who are corrupt. The people of Uganda need to know that I am clean. These are trumped-up political allegations meant to cause a storm in a tea cup.â€
He added that witnesses in the areas he allegedly visited would testify.
“I have enough evidence to prove that I went to those places.â€
Former health minister Jim Muhwezi and Mukula are accused of telling lies under oath while appearing before Ogoola’s commission.
The Ogoola Commission found that Muhwezi personally intervened in the recruitment of staff for the Project Management Unit of the Global Fund, thereby disregarding recommendations by the consultancy firm and contributing to the ‘management disaster that was waiting to happen’.
The commission documented numerous irregularities in the spending of the funds, including exorbitant staff allowances, procurement flaws and money for trips of the ministers that were not related to Global Fund activities or never took place. It further points at dubious foreign exchange transactions with dfcu Bank.
President Yoweri Museveni appointed the Ogoola commission after reports that the money had been misappropriated. Ogoola’s team recommended that the two be investigated for abuse of office and perjury.
Muhwezi was at Kibuli on Monday but was not interrogated as his lawyer was absent. He is expected to reappear before the CID tomorrow.