Uganda’s anti-corruption tribunal on Monday ordered former vice-president Gilbert Bukenya to face charges of misappropriation of funds intended for the 2007 Commonwealth summit.
An official with the inspectorate of government said Uganda had set aside a budget of $120-million to prepare and host the meeting of Commonwealth heads of state, but that the amount had risen to more than $217-million.
Senior government officials have been implicated in the misuse and embezzling of the funds following an investigation by the office of the Inspector General of Government (IGG).
The IGG said Bukenya, who headed the Commonwealth conference organising committee, had been implicated in fraudulently awarding a contract to supply a fleet of BMW model vehicles that were used by the delegates.
He was dropped in a recent cabinet reshuffle.
“We have been investigating the misuse of the Commonwealth meeting funds and made a full report, which implicated the former vice-president,” said IGG spokesperson Munira Ali.
“He has been summoned by the anti-corruption court to be charged with abuse of office and fraudulent practice,” Munira said. Bukenya is to appear on June 16.
International lending groups and Western countries have accused President Yoweri Museveni’s government of corruption and of failure to act against top officials accused of misappropriating public funds and threatened to withdraw aid. — Sapa-dpa