The Embattled Equal Opportunity Commission Boss Sylvia Ntambi has on three occasions failed to honour court summons to answer corruption charges. Criminal summons have been extended to tomorrow, Wednesday October 29, and an arrest warrant will be issued in case she snubs court for the fourth time.
Today afternoon, Sylvia Ntambi has been seen at Director Public Prosecution office (DPP) which raised eyebrows to concerned citizens thinking its another attempt to evade justice yet she is expected at Anti Corruption Court tomorrow 9am.
The first time Ntambi was supposed to appear before court, she was seen at Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga’s office, seeking her intervention. Kadaga was not of much help, but Ntambi skipped court.
In her last appearance, it was claimed by her lawyers that she had been taken ill and was admitted at Medik Hospital in Kawempe, which was not the case.
The judge however extended her summons to October 29 (tomorrow). Should she fail to show up, court will issue a warrant of arrest and any police officer can arrest her on sight and bring her before the Kololo-based Anti Corruption court.
“I will give her a benefit of doubt and give her the last chance and should she fail to come next time (tomorrow), a warrant of arrest will be issued. Criminal summons are extended for the very last time for October 29 at 9am,” Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Pamella Lamunu-Ocaya warned on October 7.
Ntambi and nine other employees of the commission face 25 counts of causing financial loss, conspiracy to defraud, embezzlement, corruption, and abuse of office.
Her co-accused are Ms Agnes Enid Kamahoro, 48, the senior personal secretary, Mr Moses Mugabe, 38, a senior monitoring and evaluation officer, Mr Mujuni Mpitsi, 49, secretary, Ms Harriet Byangire, 37, a senior accountant, Mr Ronnie Kwesiga, 33, acting accounts assistant, Mr Evans Jjemba, 35, principal compliance officer, Mr Manasseh Kwihangana, 39, a senior compliance officer.
Others are Ms Sarah Nassanga, 43, an office attendant and Mr Nicholas Sunday Olwor, 51, an undersecretary.
The chief government prosecutor said Ms Ntambi’s negligence led to gross mismanagement of the commission’s funds between July 2018 and April 2019.
Ms Ntambi, Ms Kamahoro and Mr Mpitsi between January 6, 2019 and April 30, 2019, allegedly conspired to defraud government of more than Shs9m. Under the charge of abuse of office, Mr Mugabe, Mr Mpitsi and Mr Kwihangana are accused of abusing their authority when they fraudulently processed, requisitioned and approved Shs29m in January last year purportedly for undertaking sensitisation programmes in Karamoja Sub-region whereas not.
Under count 12, Ms Ntambi alongside Ms Kamahoro and Mr Mpitsi, between January 6, 2019 and April 30, 2019, allegedly conspired to defraud government of over Shs9m.