KAMPALA – On June 28, 2024, the former Executive Director of Mulago Hospital, Dr. Baterana Byarugaba, along with six other individuals, was released on bail by the Anti-Corruption Court. The court set various bail terms for the accused, who are facing charges of abuse of office and causing financial loss.
The individuals granted bail include former senior hospital engineer Eng. Edward Kataha, former hospital senior accountant Charles Mwasa, former senior hospital administrator Kenneth Wafula, senior procurement officer Christopher Okware, former procurement officer Adah Kamucunguzi, and Setramaco International Limited directors Robert Wasike and Catherine Winfred Nabwire. All the accused have denied the charges.
On Friday, the court set the following cash bail amounts: Byarugaba, Mwasa, and Okware were each granted bail of UGX 10 million; Kataha UGX 8 million; Wafula UGX 7 million; Kamucunguzi UGX 5 million; and Nabwire UGX 4 million. Their sureties were directed to execute non-cash bonds ranging from UGX 50 million to 100 million.
Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One Abert Asiimwe, presiding over the Anti-Corruption Court, released the accused on bail after finding their sureties substantial. He also ordered the accused to deposit their passports with the court and warned that none of them should leave the country without the court’s permission.
The accused were represented by defense lawyers David Kamukama, Joseph Luzige, John Musisi, Rogers Katunguka, Zahara Tumwikirize, Saad Seninde, and Enock Kaluba. Chief state attorneys Gloria Inzikuru and Abigail Agaba led the prosecution.
Meanwhile, the court issued criminal summons against former assistant commissioner of accounts Ponziano Nyeko and assistant engineer Perezi Batanda for failing to appear in court.
The charges the accused are facing include abuse of office, under section 11 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, and causing financial loss, under section 20 (1) of the same Act. Conviction for causing financial loss can result in a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment, while abuse of office carries a maximum sentence of seven years.
The allegations state that between 2019 and 2020, Byarugaba, Nyeko, and Mwasa, while employed at Mulago Hospital and as authorized users of the Integrated Financial Management System, abused their offices by irregularly processing payments of over UGX 3 billion to Setramaco International Limited. The payments were purportedly for the supply of consumables for the servicing and repair of large-size sterilization equipment, which allegedly did not exist at the hospital, thereby causing financial loss.
Kataha and Okware are accused of irregularly requisitioning UGX 3 billion for non-existent large-size autoclaves. Wasike and Nabwire, directors of Setramaco, are alleged to have invoiced Mulago Hospital for the supply of consumables for these non-existent autoclaves during the financial years 2015/2016 and 2016/2017, causing further financial loss.
Additionally, Byarugaba, Nyeko, and Mwasa are accused of irregularly processing UGX 1.5 billion for public payments without following proper procedures, leading to further financial loss. Wasike and Nabwire allegedly issued an invoice for UGX 1.5 billion for routine servicing of autoclaves, which was not carried out. They also allegedly received double payments of UGX 186.9 million for fixing molten blankets, guiding tapes, and conveyor belts at Mulago, as well as UGX 196.6 million for relocating steam cooking pans, with no work executed.
Kamucunguzi is accused of flouting procurement procedures during the repair and servicing of sterilization equipment at Mulago, Kawempe, and Kiruddu hospitals, resulting in an irregular award of a UGX 7.5 billion contract to Setramaco.
The court proceedings continue as the accused await further hearings on these charges.
