The Solicitor General has advised the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development Mr. Aggrey Kibenge, on the interdiction of Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) chairperson Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi.
The Gender Ministry has been advised to bring the matter to the attention of the President who has to give his final decision on whether to interdict Ms Ntambi or not.
In a letter dated December 2nd to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Solicitor General said Ms Ntambi is not a “public officer” as defined by the Constitution and as such, the provisions of the various laws on interdiction of “public officers” do not apply to her.
“Ms Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi is not appointed by the Public Service Commission but by the President, who also has the authority to revoke her appointment according to Section 6 of the Equal Opportunities Commission Act,” says in part of the letter signed for the Solicitor General by H. Tukamushaba.
“Therefore in response to your question, our opinion is that the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development does not have the power or mandate to interdict Ms Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi,” the letter adds.
The PS has been advised to take the matter to the attention of the supervising minister so that he may in turn bring it to the attention of the President for further action.
“Accordingly, we advise that you bring the matter to the attention of the supervising minister (Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development) so that he may in turn bring it to the attention of the President for the requisite action,” the letter concludes.
Ntambi has since been committed to High Court for trial on accusations of corruption and mismanagement of millions of taxpayers’ money.
She is jointly accused with nine former employees of the commission who were interdicted after they were charged last year and were released on bail pending trial.
The nine include former senior personal secretary to the chairperson, Ms Agnes Enid Kamahoro, Moses Mugabe (senior monitoring evaluation officer), Harriet Byangire (senior accountant), Ronnie Kwesiga (Acting accounts assistant), Evans Jjemba (Principal Compliance officer), Manasseh Kwihangana (senior compliance officer), Sarah Nassanga (office attendant) and Sunday Nicholas Olwor.
