Kalungu residents want police to arrest and prosecute the former District Medical Officer for alleged embezzlement. Dr Mutaawe Lubogo resigned from office last week amidst accusation of corruption against him. Mutaawe is accused of conniving with three district officials to embezzle shillings 53 million meant to facilitate HIV/Aids activities. The money was donated to the district by Mildmay Uganda, Protecting Families against HIV/Aids-PREFAR and World Vision early this year.
The officials Ruth Komugisha, Kalungu district Secretary for Health Ronald Lubega, Finance and Administrative Secretary and Kalungu LC V Vice Chairperson Mariam Nabagala were recently censured from office. As a result, Dr Mutaawe submitted his resignation letter to Lillian Nakamate, Kalungu Chief Administrative Officer. He also copied the letter to Emmanuel Musoke, Kalungu LC5 Chairman and RDC Tom Sserwanga. In his letter Mutaawe says that he has consulted and found it necessary to resign but does not give reasons for his decision.
Mutawe has refused to comment about his resignation. However, a group of residents led by Joseph Ssewungu, Kalungu West MP want the former medical officer arrested and prosecuted for his alleged theft of the HIV/Aids funds. The residents insist that the resignation of Mutawe is not enough and want police to take urgent action against him and his accomplices. Nicholas Tulyamureeba, a teacher at Bulwadda primary school in Kyamuliibwa Sub County alleges that in addition to the alleged embezzlement of HIV funds Dr. Mutaawe has also mismanaged drugs in Kyamuliibwa and Kalungu health Center IV.
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Matia Kanyike, the Democratic Party Chairperson Kyamuliibwa Sub County says Dr. Mutaawe must be arrested for denying over 30 People Living with HIV AIDS in his sub county health services. He explains that many of the people living with HIV/Aids can not access ARVs and a nutritional diet because of lack of funds. He argues that if the money had been fully utilized, the lives of such people would have been saved.
Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu has promised to officially write to police asking it to take action against the implicated officials immediately. Ssewungu wonders why police has failed to take action against the officials. But Steven Etyang, Kalungu District Criminal Investigations Officer explains that police has not taken any action because of failure to get any evidence against the implicated officials.
