KAMPALA – The Director of Public Prosecutions Justice Jane Frances Abodo has ordered the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development to interdict the Equal Opportunities Commission chairperson Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi.
Ms Ntambi was last month charged before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala for corruption.
She was granted bail on November 4 by the Grade One Magistrate Moses Nabende after depositing UGX. 3.5 million as cash bail, her passport and a land title with the court.
Now, Mr. Aggrey Kibenge, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender now says in a November 9 letter to the Solicitor General Francis Atoke, that he was stuck with the DPP’s order because the Members of the Equal Opportunities Commission including the Chairperson are appointed the Predident.
“… If the above advice by the DPP stands, to seek your advice on who is the rightful officer to interdict Ms Sylivia Muwebwa Ntambi since she is an appointee of H.E the President,” Mr. Kibenge wrote.
The Solicitor General is yet to reply to the letter.
Ms Ntambi is jointly charged with her assistants at the Equal Opportunities Commission on abuse of office, corruption and conspiracy to defraud government more than 35 million shillings.
Her co-accused are; Agnes Enid Kamahoro, Moses Mugabe, Mpitsi Mujuni, Ronnie Kwesiga, Manasseh Kwihangana, Harriet Byangire, Evans Jjemba, Sarah Nassanga and Sunday Nicholas Olwor.
The prosecution alleges that Ntambi conspired with her assistants to steal money which they accessed by the virtue of the different offices they hold. The money was obtained between January and December 2018, as per diem for editing and drafting Equal Opportunities Commission HIV/AIDS workplace policy, yet none of the officials was reportedly entitled to it.
The prosecution alleges that the per diem was acquired by Kamahoro, the senior personal secretary Equal Opportunities Commission and later approved irregularly by Mujuni, the Secretary to the Commission, an act which caused financial loss to the government.
It is also alleged that part of the stolen funds had been earmarked for sensitization on equity and rights issues in lower local governments in Karamoja region.
The group has since denied the charges, released on bail and interdicted to pave way for investigations.
The case returns on November 24, 2020, for mention.
