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EOC boss Ntambi sent to High Court for trial
Equal Opportunities Commission chairperson Sylvia Ntambi (left) after appearing before Anti-Corruption Court on October 29. PHOTO | ALEX ESAGALA
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) chairperson, Ms Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi, has been committed to the High Court for trial on corruption charges.
Ms Ntambi appeared in the Anti-corruption Court in Kololo before Chief Magistrate Pamela Lamunu Ocaya yesterday.
The magistrate ruled that she would appear before the High Court at the next convenient session next year.
“Since you have understood the charges in the indictment, you are hereby committed for trial for the same,” Ms Ocaya said. She said the presiding judge in the High Court will issue hearing notices for the suspects to appear for trial.
The magistrate sent Ms Ntambi to the High Court after the state attorney, Ms Harriet Angom, told court that investigations into the case were complete and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was seeking to have the suspect committed for trial.
Ms Ntambi, who was released on bail two weeks ago, is jointly indicted with nine other employees of EOC for embezzlement, causing financial loss, conspiracy to defraud and corruption.
Prosecution states that between July 2018 and April 2019 at EOC offices in Kampala, Ms Ntambi neglected her duty of directing the affairs and administration of EOC thereby leading to gross mismanagement of the commission’s funds. The nine suspects are Ntambi’s former senior personal secretary, Agnes Enid Kamahoro, Mujuni Mpitsi (secretary) Moses Mugabe (senior monitoring and evaluation officer), Harriet Byangire (senior accountant), Ronnie Kwesiga (acting accounts assistant), Evans Jjemba (principal compliance officer), Manasseh Kwihangana (senior compliance officer), Sarah Nassanga (office attendant) and Sunday Nicholas Olwor.
Particulars of the case
It is alleged that between November 2018 and April 2019 at EOC offices in Kampala District, Mugabe, Mujuni, Jjemba and Ms Ntambi conspired to defraud government of Shs35m and more than Shs9.4m between January and April 2019.
Prosecution further states that between November 2018 and April 2019, Mugabe stole Shs29m and Shs14.5m which belonged to EOC.
The state also accuses Mugabe and Jjemba of stealing Shs5.7m from EOC.
According to prosecution, in November 2018 at EOC offices, Mujuni approved payment of Shs35m purportedly for undertaking an audit exercise of Rural Electrification Programme in Uganda, which caused financial loss to government.
Prosecution alleges that in December 2018, Kamahoro, Mujuni and Olwor fraudulently processed, requisitioned, approved Shs19m and forwarded it for payment purportedly for development. According to prosecution, between January 24 and April 2019, Ms Kamahoro and Ms Nassanga stole more than Shs13m and Ms Nassanga separately stole another Shs13m from EOC.
