More witnesses pin Cheeye over scam
Feb 18, 2009
Three witnesses, one of them a doctor, yesterday pinned Teddy Seezi Cheeye over allegations that he gave fictitious vehicles as evidence.
By Anne Mugisa and Hillary Nsambu
Three witnesses, one of them a doctor, yesterday pinned Teddy Seezi Cheeye over allegations that he gave fictitious vehicles as evidence.
State Attorney Andrew Odiit said one of the vehicles is an ambulance belonging to Mengo Hospital, while another is a tractor.
Dr. George William Bukenya of Mengo, David Nsubuga of the Uganda Revenue Authority and Nobert Kahiire of Multiline Construction, were testifying at the Anti-Corruption Court against Cheeye who is on trial over misuse of the Global Fund money.
Nsubuga, who registered the vehicles, said they had diesel engines.
However, in Cheeye’s accountability, the vehicles had petrol engines.
Yesterday’s three witnesses brought to 14 the number who have testified against Cheeye.
Meanwhile, a former CAO of Kabale, Samuel Katehangwa, told the court in an earlier hearing that Cheeye’s NGO did not carry out any activities save for the memorandum of understanding which coordinator Geoffrey Nkurunziza signed with him.
Katehangwa said Nkurunziza went to Kabale twice in 2005. “However, I have not met Nkurunziza after that occasion,†he added.
Cheeye says his NGO carried out work in Kabale, Ntungamo, Rakai and Mbarara among others places.
Another witness, Elias Mugisha, an assistant director of health services in Rakai, said Nkurunziza in 2005 promised in vain to to carry out activities in the area.
Victor Ariho, a coordinator of networking organisation in Kabale, also said Nkurunziza also simply signed a memorandum of understanding with them.
According to the State, Cheeye falsified the accounts which showed large amounts of money on the NGO’s bank when there was none and made false receipts for fuel.
Cheeye, represented by a Kampala lawyer, Peter Kabatsi, insists Nkurunziza and Samuel Kiberu, the accountant, were responsible for the money, which he says he did not embezzle.
Cheeye is the director of economic affairs in the Internal Security of Organisation.
Cheeye was asked by Uganda Global Fund to account for sh211,400 of the sh120m which his NGO received. He has paid the money back as unutilised funds.
Cheeye’s prosecution was recommended by the judicial commission of inquiry which probed the misuse of the Fund.
So far, only Cheeye and Kavuma are on trial over the money. Three former ministers implicated in the scam are yet to be prosecuted.
The Police say their files are ready for the court process to start.
Three witnesses, one of them a doctor, yesterday pinned Teddy Seezi Cheeye over allegations that he gave fictitious vehicles as evidence.
State Attorney Andrew Odiit said one of the vehicles is an ambulance belonging to Mengo Hospital, while another is a tractor.
Dr. George William Bukenya of Mengo, David Nsubuga of the Uganda Revenue Authority and Nobert Kahiire of Multiline Construction, were testifying at the Anti-Corruption Court against Cheeye who is on trial over misuse of the Global Fund money.
Nsubuga, who registered the vehicles, said they had diesel engines.
However, in Cheeye’s accountability, the vehicles had petrol engines.
Yesterday’s three witnesses brought to 14 the number who have testified against Cheeye.
Meanwhile, a former CAO of Kabale, Samuel Katehangwa, told the court in an earlier hearing that Cheeye’s NGO did not carry out any activities save for the memorandum of understanding which coordinator Geoffrey Nkurunziza signed with him.
Katehangwa said Nkurunziza went to Kabale twice in 2005. “However, I have not met Nkurunziza after that occasion,†he added.
Cheeye says his NGO carried out work in Kabale, Ntungamo, Rakai and Mbarara among others places.
Another witness, Elias Mugisha, an assistant director of health services in Rakai, said Nkurunziza in 2005 promised in vain to to carry out activities in the area.
Victor Ariho, a coordinator of networking organisation in Kabale, also said Nkurunziza also simply signed a memorandum of understanding with them.
According to the State, Cheeye falsified the accounts which showed large amounts of money on the NGO’s bank when there was none and made false receipts for fuel.
Cheeye, represented by a Kampala lawyer, Peter Kabatsi, insists Nkurunziza and Samuel Kiberu, the accountant, were responsible for the money, which he says he did not embezzle.
Cheeye is the director of economic affairs in the Internal Security of Organisation.
Cheeye was asked by Uganda Global Fund to account for sh211,400 of the sh120m which his NGO received. He has paid the money back as unutilised funds.
Cheeye’s prosecution was recommended by the judicial commission of inquiry which probed the misuse of the Fund.
So far, only Cheeye and Kavuma are on trial over the money. Three former ministers implicated in the scam are yet to be prosecuted.
The Police say their files are ready for the court process to start.