City health chief defends Global Fund suspects
May 07, 2009
A CITY director of health services stunned court yesterday when he testified that he officiated at the closure of a workshop funded by the Global Fund though he does not know whether it actually took place.
By Edward Anyoli
A CITY director of health services stunned court yesterday when he testified that he officiated at the closure of a workshop funded by the Global Fund though he does not know whether it actually took place.
Dr. Mesach Mubiru of Kampala City Council, who is the second defence witness in the case, said the participants received certificates from Valued Health, a local NGO contracted to implement some Global Fund projects.
He added that he did not know whether the workshop was conducted for 10 days as the group’s directors, Annaliza Mondon and Elizabeth Ngororano claimed.
“I only attended the closing ceremony I do not know whether the workshop took place at Bativa Hotel. I was only invited as a guest,†Mubiru said.
He told the court that Valued Health did not specify the kind of workshop he was to preside over.
Mondon and Ngororano are accused of embezzling sh18.7m from the Global Fund.
While Mubiru said 30 participants attended the workshop, the first defence witness, Joyce Aciro, said 40 people attended.
Meanwhile, Mondon on Wednesday denied mismanaging sh45.5m from the Global Fund.
She also denied submitting false accountability to the Project Management Unit.
“he accountability reports were never questioned by the management,†Mondon said.
She said her NGO spent sh7.3m to hire a room for the workshop and to pay the participants a transport allowance.
Mondon, however, failed to provide proof of how the money was paid out. She could not explain to the trial Judge, Justice John Bosco Katusti, how two disputed receipts were submitted by Valued Health to the Project Management Unit.
Mondon also failed to provide proof that her company hired vehicles to carry out sensitisation campaigns.
She said her firm paid Reddy Silvansa, a former employee of Improve Uganda, to sensitise the youth, but David Nsubuga, the manager, denied offering services to Valued Health.
Efforts by the defence lawyer to submit documents as exhibits were denied after Principal State Attorney Alice Komuhangi said the documents were not availed to her in time. The trial continues today.
A CITY director of health services stunned court yesterday when he testified that he officiated at the closure of a workshop funded by the Global Fund though he does not know whether it actually took place.
Dr. Mesach Mubiru of Kampala City Council, who is the second defence witness in the case, said the participants received certificates from Valued Health, a local NGO contracted to implement some Global Fund projects.
He added that he did not know whether the workshop was conducted for 10 days as the group’s directors, Annaliza Mondon and Elizabeth Ngororano claimed.
“I only attended the closing ceremony I do not know whether the workshop took place at Bativa Hotel. I was only invited as a guest,†Mubiru said.
He told the court that Valued Health did not specify the kind of workshop he was to preside over.
Mondon and Ngororano are accused of embezzling sh18.7m from the Global Fund.
While Mubiru said 30 participants attended the workshop, the first defence witness, Joyce Aciro, said 40 people attended.
Meanwhile, Mondon on Wednesday denied mismanaging sh45.5m from the Global Fund.
She also denied submitting false accountability to the Project Management Unit.
“he accountability reports were never questioned by the management,†Mondon said.
She said her NGO spent sh7.3m to hire a room for the workshop and to pay the participants a transport allowance.
Mondon, however, failed to provide proof of how the money was paid out. She could not explain to the trial Judge, Justice John Bosco Katusti, how two disputed receipts were submitted by Valued Health to the Project Management Unit.
Mondon also failed to provide proof that her company hired vehicles to carry out sensitisation campaigns.
She said her firm paid Reddy Silvansa, a former employee of Improve Uganda, to sensitise the youth, but David Nsubuga, the manager, denied offering services to Valued Health.
Efforts by the defence lawyer to submit documents as exhibits were denied after Principal State Attorney Alice Komuhangi said the documents were not availed to her in time. The trial continues today.