The belief in Minister – designate Alice Kaboyo that the 2012 GAVI fund corruption scandal is now a past event has proved to be day dreaming.
Parliament’s Appointments Committee reportedly rejected Kaboyo on grounds of the 2012 Anti Corruption Court case where she pleaded guilty for abuse of office.
Kaboyo was appointed State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in Charge of Luwero Triangle- Rwenzori region in the cabinet list released on June 8.
The Parliament Appointments Committee mandated under law to subject the President’s appointment to scrutiny questioned the Minister’s suitability for the office on the account of her past conduct.
According to sources, the committee rejected her appointment basing on the June 2012 incident when the Anti-Corruption Court convicted her, after she pleaded guilty to some of the counts in the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) case.
Accused along with three former Health Ministers Jim Muhwezi, his deputies Mike Mukula and Dr Alex Kamugisha, Kaboyo was fined Shs 20 million after she pleaded guilty.
Through her defence Lawyer Late Bob Kasango, Kaboyo pleaded guilty to two counts of abuse of office and writing documents in the name of the former Private Principal Presidential Secretary, Amelia Kyambadde.
It was established that Kaboyo had been advanced Shs 524millions for GAVI advocacy conferences after she had already resigned her position.
At the time of the ruling, she had already refunded Shs250 million.
Irene Akankwasa – the presiding Magistrate then handed Kaboyo a Shs5m on each of the four counts or a prison term of two years on each counts.
“This seemingly light sentence is justified because A4 now a convict has not wasted court’s time. In the case of default to pay the said sum, the convict will serve the sentences concurrently,” she ruled.
By law, the Anti- Corruption Act prohibits an ex convict to serve in a public office until after 10 years upon conviction, a provision upon which the committee might have ruled against the appointment.
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