Former Education Ministry PS Dr.Nassali, three others charged with abuse of office

The Anti-Corruption court in Kololo has charged former Education Ministry Permanent Secretary, Dr.Rose Nassali Lukwago and three other officials with abuse of office and causing government financial loss.

Nassali who was earlier arrested by police together with officials from the office of the Inspector General of Police was arraigned before the Anti- Corruption grade one Magistrate Pamela Lamunu and charged together with Dr.Opio Okiror, the commissioner health services in the Ministry of Health, Jaffer Kawooya an internal auditor in the Ministry of Public Service Cuthbert Kagabo, the deputy director at AH Consulting Limited with offences related to causing financial loss contrary to section 20 of the Anti-Corruption Act.

Prosecution alleges that the group, in the financial year 2014/2015 at the Ministry of Education and Sports headquarters in Kampala in performance of their duties unlawfully facilitated an overpayment to AH Consulting Limited well knowing their actions would cause a financial loss of shs33.86 million to government.

Dr.Nassali was also charged with abuse of office contrary to section 11 of the Anti –Corruption Act when in performance of her duties as the Permanent Secretary for the Education Ministry abused her authority by arbitrarily contracting AH Consulting Limited to recruit five technical staff to work for the ADB V Hest project yet the required staff for the ministry had already been recruited.

The court also charged Opio with abuse of office for abusing his authority as the Manager for ADB V Hest project when he contravened the responsibilities of a contract manager as set out in the public procurement laws and failed to ensure AD Consulting Limited performed its terms and recruited staff who had already been got.

The group, however, denied the charges and in response, the state prosecutor, Hassan Walusimbi asked court to give a hearing date because the investigations into the matter have been completed.

Released

The group was however released on a three million cash bond for each of the accused whereas each of their sureties was asked to pay a non-cash bond of shs20 million.

The matter was adjourned to September 10.