| LUGOGO Monitor April 13, 2006 PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni introduced a civil society organisation as a lead Aids campaign agency to the Minister of Health, Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi and asked him to assist the NGO access Global Fund cash, the Justice James Ogoola led-commission heard yesterday.
This was disclosed by the coordinator of the Global Fund Project Management Unit, Dr Tiberius
Muhebwa.
Museveniâs letter addressed to Muhwezi and copied to the Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, was dated June 28, 2004. The letter is titled; âUtilising the Uganda Farmers Association as the lead agency for the Aids campaign.â
âThis is to formalise the verbal directive I put to you on telephone on June 26, 2004, regarding the above subject.â the President wrote.
âTherefore, engage the association as the lead agency in fighting Aids because it is widely spread among the populace and goes down to the grassroots. Logistically, utilise the Aids fund to facilitate them. Let the association identify their members whom you should co-opt with Aids experts in the campaign against HIV/Aids,â Museveni further said.
Muhebwa told the Ogoola commission yesterday that the Presidentâs instructions culminated into a meeting
between him, Muhwezi and Chebet Maikut, the chairman of the Uganda Farmers Association on July 16, 2004.
He, however, said the NGO Museveni fronted never got the Shs5 billion it was supposed to get.
Muhebwa said before the Presidentâs introduction, the NGO had received Shs406 million. He said giving them more cash to the tune of Shs5 billion was not feasible. He said the PMU only gave them an extra Shs200 million.
âWouldnât you characterise this as political influence, to sit in the ministerâs office with a sub-recipient who had applied for money without going through the right channels?â asked Ogoola.
âThis is a letter from the President of the country, you may call it political interest or influence,â Muhebwa answered. Other letters that originated from State House intended to throw political weight behind the sub-recipients included - one that was written by the Presidential Legal Assistant, Mr Fox Odoi.
Odoi introduced the
Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, largely to carry out education, information and communication through mobilisation.
Muhwezi received a letter from Ms Dora Kibende, the Executive Assistant to the first lady, Ms Janet Museveni, to fund a media programme for the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/Aids.
Commissioner Margaret Mugherera asked why Muhebwaâs telephone print out indicated that he made frequent calls with Muhwezi and dfcuâs Robert Katuntu during the period when PMU sold dollars to the bank.
âMy lord, this could have been a coincedence, the minister used to call me even when he was away in Geneva on GF business. I never benefited from the translation of these dollars into shillings. You (Commission) have even ransacked my bank accounts but itâs clear that what I got was my salary for which I was entitled,â Muhebwa answered.
New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save big._______________________________________________
Ugandanet mailing list
[email protected]
http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet
% UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including
attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way.
---------------------------------------
| 
