Parliament's appointments committee declined to approve the appointment of Alice Kaboyo as minister of state in the Office of the Prime Minister for Luwero Triangle-Rwenzori region.
Kaboyo, a former State House aide is among several ministers that President Yoweri Museveni appointed to serve in cabinet on June 8. Before these are sworn in, the Constitution mandates parliament through its appointments committee to scrutinise the appointed persons on moral, academic, criminal grounds.
While appearing before the committee chaired by deputy speaker Anita Among on Wednesday, Kaboyo failed to have her appointment approved.
According to sources, the committee rejected her appointment basing on the June 2012 incident when the Anti-Corruption court convicted her after she pleaded guilty on four of nine 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 Shs 20 million or an 8-year jail term. She opted to pay the Shs 20 million fine.
Represented by late lawyer Bob Kasango, Kaboyo pleaded guilty to two counts of abuse of office and writing forged documents in the name of the former private principal presidential secretary Amelia Kyambadde.
Court learnt that out of the Shs 524 million allegedly advanced to Kaboyo to prepare advocacy conferences, she had already refunded Shs 250 million. According to court records, Kaboyo was advanced the GAVI funds after she had resigned from her post.
The presiding magistrate, Irene Akankwasa then sentenced Kaboyo to pay Shs 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 based on to reject Kaboyo's appointment as minister, according to sources.
Source
