Your daily Selection of IRIN Africa PlusNews reports, 5/24/2006

May 24, 2006

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CONTENT:

1 - UGANDA: Politicians implicated in Global Fund scam excluded from gov't

KAMPALA, 24 May (PLUSNEWS) - Uganda's former health minister and his two

deputies - all of whom are accused of mismanagement of foreign grants to fight

HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria - have been left out of President Yoweri

Museveni's new cabinet.

A list of proposed cabinet members submitted to the Ugandan parliament for

approval on Tuesday did not include the names of former minister Jim Muhwezi,

Mike Mukula and Kamugisha. The president, who won a third term of office in

a February poll, gave no reason for their exclusion. Observers, however, said

the move is linked to Uganda's Global Fund scandal.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria temporarily suspended

all grants to Uganda in August 2005, citing " serious mismanagement " of the

funds. It lifted the suspension in November 2005, following assurances by the

government that it would look into the management of the money.

There has been public outrage over the manner in which the health ministry

handled the funds, which amounted to more than US$200 million. Museveni

appointed a judicial commission of inquiry that unearthed alleged interference

by Muhwezi in the administration of the funds. His two deputies were also

accused of involvement in various scams that a judge described as " a pile of

filth " .

Ugandans in Kampala, the capital, welcomed the president's decision to exclude

the men from his new cabinet. " The move by the president answered an outcry for

their dismissal. It is only the hope of everybody that there is commitment to

fight corruption in government, " said veteran lawyer Henry Kala.

Godfrey Kaparu, who drives a 'boda boda', or motorcycle taxi, said, " Jim

[Muhwezi], as the high officer in charge of the ministry, had to take

responsibility. "

Beatrice Were, one of the first Ugandans to declare her HIV-positive status

publicly and the founder of a grassroots women's nongovernmental organisation,

said she interpreted the exclusion as " sign of commitment by the government to

fight corruption. "

In a surprise move, Museveni has included his controversial brother and retired

army general Caleb Akandwanaho - a.k.a Salim Saleh - as well as his former ally

and childhood friend Eriya Kategaya, who had become one of his fiercest critics.

Museveni has come under increasing donor pressure to implement good governance

and take control of corruption.

[ENDS]

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May 24, 2006