Makerere academic registrar denies fake procurement deal

COURT|MAKERERE|FRAUD 

KAMPALA - Makerere University deputy academic registrar in charge of certificates, ceremonies and publications, has denied flouting the procurement process during the 67th graduation ceremony. 

Loy Margaret Etuusa, while testifying before Justice Margaret Tibulya at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo, Kampala, said it is the university policy to generate money through hiring of space for vendors during graduation. 

Etuusa on Wednesday (December 9, 2020) told court that she has never been involved in any illegal procurement process. 

She said for the 27 years she has worked with Makerere University, she has done her job diligently. 

"The charges brought against me are fake, trumped-up, and done in bad faith. I have served the university diligently for 27 years and not even once had I been cautioned," she said. 

Etuusa said the university was paid money by different service providers during the graduation ceremony through the bank in 2017. 

She said procurement processes are done by filing the P5 form.

"I have evidence that the university earned money through this process which is reflected in the bank statement. On February 13, 2017, James Patrick Kakande paid sh300,000. He was a vendor selling eats. On February 13, 2017, Kelvin Mulembe paid sh300,000 as a vendor. Milton Egayu paid sh500,000 to sell flowers. On February 18, 2017, Yasin Munda paid sh1m and Juliet Mirembe paid sh200,000," she said.

She said the 67th graduation ceremony was successful and subsequently the then vice-chancellor, John Ddumba, commended her for a job well done in a letter dated March 17, 2017. 

Charges 

Prosecution, led by Josephine Namatovu from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said Etuusa, on February15, 2017 at Makerere University, while employed as deputy academic registrar, abused her office by procuring Exxon Contractors Ltd to provide phone-keeping services during the graduation ceremony. 

Etuusa is purported to have contravened procurement laws, regulations and procedures by procuring JAALC Uganda Ltd to provide drinks and food vending services at the graduation ceremony. 

According to prosecution, she also flouted the procurement process by irregularly procuring services of Juliet Mirembe to provide food and drinks yet the university had prohibited food, drinks, phones and cameras at the ceremony. 

Prosecution claims that during the graduation ceremony, Etuusa acted contrary to Makerere University's policies when she contravened procurement laws and regulations by procuring the services of Milton Egayu to provide flower vending services at the ceremony. 

Any person found guilty of abuse of office under the Anti-Corruption Act is liable to a term not exceeding seven years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding sh3.2m. 

Etuusa attempt to block suspension 

In May, 2017, Etuusa, through her lawyer, made an attempt to block her suspension from the university in vain. She had sought a court order to restrain the institution from taking any disciplinary measures against her. 

The university went ahead to affect the suspension, prompting her lawyer to file an application for contempt of court. 

The Court of Appeal had initially granted an interim order stopping her suspension from the university Etuusa had argued that the management unlawfully suspended her from the university without following the due process of the law, adding that she was never given the right to be heard. 

Etuusa joined Makerere in 1992 as an assistant registrar and grew through the ranks, culminating in her appointment as the deputy registrar of the certificates, ceremonies and publication division in the department of the academic registrar.