The Director of Criminal Investigations (CID) has summoned former Minister for Presidency, Esther Mbayo over allegations of abuse of office, embezzlement and causing financial loss of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC).
The summons claim that Mbayo, while serving as the minister was the direct supervisor of the said entity.
Mbayo was asked to appear at CID head offices on 15th September, according to the letter dated 13.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigation is investigating allegations of abuse of office, embezzlement and causing financial loss of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation where you were a Supervisor of the said Corporation from 2019 to 2021” reads the letter.
Hon Esther Mbulakubuza Mbayo is the Member of Parliament for Luuka District and also the former Minister for Presidency, during which term of office she also served as the UPPC Supervisor. Apparently, the new Minister in-charge of the Presidency, Ms Milly Babirye Babalanda, has instructed some investigations in which a UPPC official called Wasswa was arrested over embezzling Shs.3billion. The former Minister is therefore required to make a statement in respect of the said investigations before Ag CP Economic Crime and Financial Intelligence but has not yet done so.
Hon Mbayo, during a parliamentary seating on 29th September raised concerns telling the house that she was illegally summoned at the police CID offices recently.
The MP said she had travelled out of the country about a week ago when she received a call by an officer summoning her to appear in Kibuli.
“In my wisdom I told him to summon me through my boss the speaker of parliament but he responded that it was a system which was, but is now not respected(anymore),” she said.
The Speaker of Parliament, Hon Jacob Oulanya, through whom the summon was issued, later clarified that he had received the summons letter for Hon Mbayo and effectively communicated that she was not in the country.
“I told them to reissue the summon but up to now they have not and the Honorable has not been able to go and record a statement.”
