Embattled former health minister for general duties and Soroti Municipality MP. Capt. Mike Mukula has revealed to the Anti-corruption court that part of the GAVI money he is accused of having misused was
given to Uganda's first lady, Mrs. Janet Museveni.
Mukula made the claim while defending himself on allegations that he took over shs.210 million from the GAVI funds account.
“First I deny that I stole Shs.210 million from the Gavi account, my duty with a clear recollection was that on 14th January, 2005 at Imperial Resort Hotel in Entebbe, in a meeting with the First Lady of the Republic of Uganda, Maama Janet Museveni, a verbal request was made to me in person to help her source funding to help her activities in mobilisation in the country for the good of the health of children, mothers and others,” said Capt. Mukula.
Mukula told court presided over by Chief Magistrate Irene Akankwasa that he accepted the First Lady’s request before asking her to formalise by writing.
“I did accept to do so upon receipt of the formal request from her office. On the 31st of January 2005, a letter was forwarded to me signed by Madam Margaret Lalam, one of the senior private secretaries in the State House, actualising a formal request from Maama Janet Museveni with an attachment of a follow-up of the three proposed conferences,” he said.
He further said that in consultation with his then boss, Maj Gen. Jim Muhwezi, who was the health minister, the money was processed and paid.
Mukula said three vouchers were processed in different amounts; Shs.136,890,000 million, Shs.73,146,000 million and Shs.53,819,000 million totaling to Shs.263,855,000 million, which he signed.
He said only Shs.54 million was disbursed to the office of the first lady and Shs.210 was re-banked on the GAVI Fund account in Bank of Uganda.
“I am aware that the Shs.54 million was received and acknowledged by the First Lady’s office and it was accounted for,” Capt Mukula said.
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