Uganda’s Politics

Grace Matsiko (daily monitor) reports thatPresident Yoweri Museveni has given the Criminal Investigations Directorate until July 31 to compile evidence against Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi and other government officials implicated in the misuse of the Global Fund to fight HIV/Aids and malaria, Daily Monitor has learnt.

“I am fed up of being blackmailed on this Global Fund issue; does it take ages to know the truth? I am giving you July 31 to end these investigations,” Mr Museveni reportedly told Mr Ochora during the meeting. “Some people involved in this money (scam) insinuate they used it for NRM work. Let them go to court and produce the evidence,” an angry Museveni reportedly said.

Former Health minister Jim Muhwezi is at the centre of the alleged mismanagement of the US$201 million Global Fund with his two deputies – Mike Mukula and Alex Kamugisha – and the coordinator of the Project Management Unit, Dr Tiberius Muhebwa.

Earlier this week, Maj. Gen. Muhwezi claimed that the ruling National Resistance Movement has repeated some of the mistakes it sought to correct when it came to power after a five-year guerrilla war in 1986, two days before Capt. Mukula said party leader President Yoweri Museveni and secretary general had “failed to offer party leadership”.

Meanwhile Maj. Gen. James Kazini has petitioned the Constitutional Court challenging his trial before the General Court Martial.

The former army commander was on March 27 sentenced to three years imprisonment and sent to Luzira prison for causing financial loss of Shs61 million.

He spent close to three weeks in Luzira before he was on April 21 granted bail by the Court Martial Appeals Court, pending his appeal.

Gen. Kazini, was jailed with two co- accused, Lt. Col. Dura Mawa Muhindo and Capt. Michael Baryaguma, convicted for abuse of office, uttering false documents and causing financial loss.