Equal Opportunities Commission Boss Finally Appears Before Court For Embezzlement

Equal Opportunities Commission Chairperson Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi has turned herself in and been charged before the Anti-Corruption Court this morning following threats to order for her arrest to answer charges of  conspiracy to defraud and corruption.

Muwebwa has appeared  before Chief Magistrate Pamella Lamunu Ochaya and denied the charges.

She is jointly charged with nine other Commission Officials who are facing 26 counts that include Embezzlement, and Causing Financial loss to Government of Shs 245.5M.

Muwebwa is facing 3 counts and is alleged to have neglected her duty of directing the affairs and administration of the Commission thereby leading to gross mismanagement of the commission funds.

She is said to have committed the offence between July 2018 and April 2019 at the Equal Opportunities Commission offices in Kampala.

The other accused persons include Agnes Enid Kamahoro the Senior Personal  Secretary, Moses Mugabe the Senior Monitoring Evaluation Officer, Mujuni Mpitsi the Secretary to the Commission, Byangire Harriet the Senior Accountant, Kwesiga Ronnie the Accounts Assistant, Jemba Evans the Principle Compliance Officer, Kwihangana Manasseh the Senior Compliance  Officer, Sarah Nassanga the Commission Attendant and Olwor Sunday Nicholas the Under – Secretary.

Prosecution led by Angom Harriet and James Khaukha alleges that the accused officials conspired  and requisitioned, approved and forwarded the said monies for payment purporting that it was going to conduct sensitization activities in the Karamoja Sub region.

The sensitization activities involved undertaking an audit exercise of the rural electrification programme in Uganda  for development of 1 and 2 draft Commission HIV/AIDS work place policy, for monitoring exercise in Lower Local Government and for senstization on equity and rights issues in lower local govt whereas not and which action they knew would cause financial loss to the Government.

Some of the accused officials are alleged to have received millions of money on their personal accounts and neglected their duty to account for it.

Muwebwa has applied for bail through Kabega and Tumusiime Company Advocates but the presiding Magistrate says she is going to rule on it at 3pm today after Prosecution objected to her release saying they have fears that she might not honour bail and that it would be better she applies before the High Court where she is going to be committed and others  for trial.