Ex-Minister Esther Mbayo’s Troubles Continue

Uganda Police Force (UPF) Criminal Investigations Directorate has summoned former presidency minister Esther Mbayo for interrogation over her alleged involvement in the reported misuse and diversion of funds.

President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni dropped Mbayo, the Luuka District Woman MP, from cabinet and replaced her with his former assistant Milly Babirye Babalanda.

In her first weeks in office, Minister Babalanda sought to clean up institutions under her office. One of these was the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC).

Babalanda ordered an investigation at UPPC, suspended its Managing Director Dr Tom Wasswa and the board over alleged corruption. She also stopped all procurement deals involving UPPC.

She replaced Wasswa with James Tweheyo in acting capacity.

Meanwhile, Shs600m of the stolen Shs3bn was recovered.

“Using my powers as Line Minister under Sec.6 of the UPPC Act, yesterday I temporarily suspended the MD and Board of UPPC. The action is intended to pave way for investigations into allegations of corruption and forgery. All other staff is urged to continue working normally,” said the minister in August 2021.

Now, Mbayo, who was supervisor of UPPC in her capacity as presidency minister, has been summoned by CID to record a statement with the Economic Crimes and Financial Intelligence Unit of the Criminal Investigations Division.

“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is investigating allegations of abuse of office, embezzlement and causing financial loss of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation where you were the supervisor of the said corporation from 2019 to 2021,” CID wrote to Mbayo, through the Speaker of Parliament on September 13, 2021.