Emmanuel Musoke, Kalungu LC V chairman and Chief Administrative Officer Lillian Nakamatte are protesting the censure of three officials for alleged embezzlement of HIV/ Aids funds. The three officials are Ruth Komugusha, Kalungu Secretary for Health, Ronald Lubega, the Finance and Administrative Secretary and Kalungu LC V vice chairperson Mariam Nabagala. The trio was censured on Wednesday over allegations of embezzling shillings 53 million meant for facilitating HIV/Aids activities in the district.
The money was donated to Kalungu district by Mildmay Uganda, Protecting Families against HIV/Aids-PREFAR and World Vision early this year. The trio allegedly colluded with Dr. Mutaawe Lubogo, Kalungu District Medical Officer to swindle the funds. On Wednesday, councilors of Kalungu district moved a motion to censure the officials from office. Raphael Kisekka, Kalungu District Council speaker says that six out of the 8 district councilors voted for the removal of the accused officials from office.
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The councilors directed Lillian Nakamatte, Kalungu CAO to ensure the trio leaves office and immediately halts paying them any allowances. But Nakamatte says that she will not enforce the directive because the embattled officials are innocent until proven guilty. She also says that removing the three officials from office now will affect the approval of the budget frame work papers which are needed by the finance ministry in January.
Nakamatte also warns that removing the trio could cost the district heavily in terms of costly court litigation since there is no evidence pinning them. Emmanuel Musoke, Kalungu LC5 Chairman has also defended the affected members saying that they are political heads who have nothing to do with district finances. He advises the councilors to turn their heat on the CAO and district finance office who authorize payments.
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Ruth Komugisha, one of the censured officials maintains they are being witch hunted. Komugisha vows not to step aside until an independent probe set up by the district finds her guilty. She however says that she does not believe in the committee led by Charles Sserwanja saying it is comprised of her political rivals who are fighting the loss of their comrade former Kalungu East MP Umar Lule Mawiya.
But Sserwanja, the Probe Committee Chairperson says that they have started with the political wing to get information that they will use to pin the technical officers led by Nakamatte. On Wednesday, Dr. Mutaawe Lubogo, Kalungu medical officer snubbed summons to appear before the committee over the missing funds. Lubogo accused the probe committee members of discussing personalities instead of issues vowing never to appear before them.
