Global Fund suspects have case to answer, court rules

May 05, 2009

THE Anti-Corruption Court has ruled that the two directors of a local NGO, Valued Health, have a case to answer in the Global Fund scam.

By Edward Anyoli

THE Anti-Corruption Court has ruled that the two directors of a local NGO, Valued Health, have a case to answer in the Global Fund scam.

They are accused of embezzling sh18.7m that was given to them for HIV/AIDS activities.

Justice John Bosco Katusti said yesterday after the State had closed its case that it had proved a prima facie case against Annaliza Mondon and Elizabeth Ngororano.

“There is a prima facie case duly established requiring each accused to take a stand,” Justice Katutsi ruled and ordered them to start their defence today.

The two are the third group to be tried after the former director of economic monitoring at the Internal Security Organisation, Teddy Seezi Cheeye and Fred Kavuma, a former UTV journalist, were convicted last month.

Thirteen witnesses including Mohammed Kezaala, the former health permanent secretary and David Nsubuga, who worked with Annaliza Mondon, testified against her and Ngororano.

The suspects can choose between giving sworn evidence under which they can be cross-examined, unsworn evidence where their testimony cannot be challenged, or can opt not to say anything.

They told the court that they had 11 defence witnesses including the programme coordinator of the Global Fund, Chris Makanga, an official from the Auditor General’s office, and the registrar of motor vehicles at the Uganda Revenue Authority.

The majority of prosecution witnesses denied dealing with Mondon and Ngororano. The duo are represented by city lawyers Didas Nkrunziza and Mohammed Mbabazi.

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