Newly appointed Minister for State Minister for Luweero-Rwenzori Triangle Hon. Alice Kaboyo has this afternoon taken her Oath as state minister in the government of Uganda.
During the event held at Kololo Independence grounds, Kaboyo was ushered into the system again by the Fountain of Honour H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Also in presence was the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robina Nabanja together other senior government official.
Kaboyo’s appointment came as a shock to many as majority questioned her integrity following her involvement in a corruption scandal years back.
This prompted Parliament appointments committee to put her name on pending.
However two weeks later, Parliament’s Appointments Committee made a turn in the events, approved the appointment of Ms. Alice Kaboyo as State Minister for Luweero-Rwenzori Triangle.
Kaboyo had been rejected over integrity and corruption issues. A source at the high table of NRM politics said the President Museveni wrote to the Parliament’s Appointments Committee, explaining his choice for the embattled Ms. Kaboyo.
President Museveni also reportedly told Cabinet meeting on Monday that he had ordered for the approval of Kaboyo appointment basing on the fact that her accomplice Jim Muhwezi was approved as security minister by the same committee.
“Why are you biased on her? Isn’t it the same committee that approved Hon. [Jim] Muhwezi as minister? the President was quoted as saying.
Parliament had rejected Kaboyo’s 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.
Kaboyo who was then co-accused with three former Health Ministers Jim Muhwezi, his deputies Mike Mukula and Dr. Alex Kamugisha was sentenced to a fine of UGX 20 million or an 8 year prison term.
She chose to pay the UGx. 20 million fine.
Represented by late lawyer 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.
Court learnt that out of the UGX 524 million l allegedly advanced to Kaboyo to prepare advocacy conferences, she had already refunded 250 million.
According to court records, Kaboyo advanced the GAVI funds after she had resigned her post.
The presiding magistrate, Irene Akankwasa then sentenced Kaboyo to pay UGX 5 million on each of the four counts or a prison term of two years on each count.
“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,” said Akankwasa.
The Anti- Corruption Act prohibits someone to serve in a public office for a period of 10 years upon conviction.
This is the provision that the committee had based on to reject Kaboyo’s appointment as minister according to sources.
