The Anti-Corruption Court has remanded former Mulago National Referral Hospital Executive Director, Dr. Bonaventura Byarugaba Baterana, to Luzira Prison.

Dr. Byarugaba and six other hospital administrators face charges of abuse of office and causing a financial loss of over Shs6 billion (US$1.6 million) to the government.

The suspects are accused of irregularly processing a Shs3 billion payment to two companies, Setramaco International Ltd. and Convention World Ltd., and causing a double payment of Shs186 million to Setramaco for a ghost contract to supply and install equipment at the hospital.

They are also accused of flouting procurement procedures and allowing the fraudulent transactions.

The two companies, along with their proprietors, are also charged with abuse of office and causing financial loss.

Prosecutors alleged that Setramaco and Convention World Ltd. used inflated invoices and, in some cases, double-billed the hospital for services not rendered.

One instance involves a Shs186 million payment for “molten blankets, guiding tapes, and conveyor “belts”—supplies the hospital never had. Another payment of Shs3 billion was allegedly for servicing non-existent sterilization equipment.

Dr. Byarugaba was initially arrested in March 2022 and interdicted by the Health Ministry Permanent Secretary following investigations by the State House Health Monitoring Unit.

He was reinstated in 2023 before being replaced by Dr. Rosemary Kusaba Byanyima in April 2024.
They are expected to reappear in court for a hearing June 24, 2024.