Health Ministry PS Dr. Atwine clears air on mischarge of Shs.2.2bn

The Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine has cleared the air on allegations of mischarge of over shs2.2 billion meant for construction of paediatric surgery wards in regional referral hospitals.

Atwine was on Thursday morning together with the ministry undersecretary Ronald Ssegawa handed over to CID by the Parliamentary  Accounts Committee to record statements for flouting the Public Finance Management Act where one is required to seek permission from the Secretary to the Treasury before diverting allocated monies for any other use.

However, in a statement released on Thursday afternoon, Atwine admitted that he appeared before PAC but explained the circumstances under which she was referred to CID for statement recording.

“The funds in question were re-allocated to cater for projects where government had an obligation of fulfilling its counterpart funding. These projects where the funds were diverted include Kayunga and Yumbe Hospital refurbishment project, Mulago Hospital and Mulago Women and Neonatal Hospital,”Atwine said in the statement.

She explained that they saved money from accrued interests and litigation costs adding that when government over commits in agreements and fails to meet its counterpart funding, this puts projects in problems

“This has nothing to do with misuse or embezzlement. What the money has done is there and can be seen .We are proud that despite the financial hardships the responsible officers worked with what they had to do more. Women and Neonatal hospital, Kayunga ,Yumbe and  Paediatric Hospital Entebbe are there to be seen,” the statement says..

“There were no funds lost but  instead  were efficiently utilised as opposed to being  left idle.”