KAMPALA–Prof. Anthony Mbonye, the acting director general of health services, has secured a permanent injunction from court, blocking the IGG and Ministry of Health permanent secretary from firing him. The injunction was issued Friday. Last month, court issued temporary injunction until the main is heard and disposed off.
Prof. Mbonye ran to court protesting a move by the Health ministry permanent secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, to have him fired over integrity issues.
Mbonye, who is a professor of medicine and obviously more senior to Dr. Atwine in medical circles, petitioned court to help him secure his job after Atwine ordered that he vacates office, basing on the recommendations of the IGG over his integrity.
In her investigations, Justice Irene Mulyagonja accused Mbonye of conflict of interest when he determined the person specifications for the position of the director general of health services, a position he was interested in and applied for.
The IGG’s probe follows whistle blower’s complaints, accusing Mbonye of conflict of interest.
According to IGG, Mbonye was not fit to be shortlisted for the position, insisting that he should have relinquished his current senior position before applying for the job of director.
Behind the battles
With so many donor-funded health projects at the ministry, a highly placed source told PML Daily that wars are inevitable.
“Mbonye is a highly qualified person and other ministry officials feel inferior working with him. They fought Asuman Lukwago, the former ministry permanent secretary, until the President gave him another job,” a source revealed this morning.
A source also alleges that their main scheme is to steal money meant to buy drugs for patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS and malaria.
“They steal the money from the National Medical Stores by colluding with Quality Chemicals and over inflating drugs, supply few to health facilities and share the balance,” the source said.
This confirms the silent battle between Mbonye, the Health minister Jane Ruth Aceng and Atwine. A fortnight ago, an internal memo was issued by Atwine ordering Mbonye to immediately vacate office.
Atwine ordered Mbonye to return to his previous position as the Director of Health Services (Clinical and Community).
Meanwhile, many senior staff at the ministry have resigned in protest.These include Dr. Jacinto Amandua (commissioner Clinical services) , Andrew Abunyang (Commissioner human resources) and Dr Paul Kaggwa (commissioner community health).
After attending several meetings where the two powerful ladies reportedly insulted staff, the newly posted assistant commissioner accounts asked for immediate transfer.
Dr Jim Arinaitwe, the coordinator for Global Fund projects, refused to renew his contract citing harassment from the minister.
