Court summons Equal Opportunities Commission boss over corruption

The Anti- Corruption Court has summoned the chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission, Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi to answer corruption charges.

The court's chief magistrate, Pamela Lamunu Ocaya issued the criminal summons on Tuesday requiring Ntambi to appear before her on September 30 to answer the charges against her. The summons follow the amendment of the charge sheet to include Ntambi who was not in court as she was reportedly away on official duty. She was represented by her lawyer Hanan Kaggwa.

Ntambi and nine other employees of the commission face 25 counts of causing financial loss, conspiracy to defraud, embezzlement, corruption, and abuse of office.

He co-accused are Mujuni Mpitsi, the Secretary to the Commission, Olwor Sunday Nicholas, the undersecretary, Moses Mugabe, a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, and Byangire Harriet, a Senior Accountant.

Others are Edith Kamahoro, a senior Personal Secretary; Kwesiga Ronnie, an Accounts Assistant; Jjemba Evans, the Principle Compliance Officer, Kwihangana Manasseh, a Senior Compliance Officer, and Sarah Nassanga an Office Attendant.

According to the charge sheet signed by Jane Frances Abodo, the Director of Public Prosecution, Ntambi, Mugabe, Mujuni Mpitsi and Jemba conspired to defraud the government of sh35,002,000. The prosecution alleges that the accused claimed the money to undertake an audit exercise of the Rural Electrification Programme in Uganda which activity is said to have not taken place.

It also alleged that Ntambi between July 2018 and April 2019 at the Equal Opportunities Commission offices in Kampala District, as the chairperson, neglected her duty of directing the affairs and administration of the Commission, thereby leading to gross mismanagement of the Commission Funds.