Why Deceased Kanyeihamba Wasn’t Taken Abroad For Treatment!! Minister Otafiire Speaks Out On Stealing Kanyeihamba’s Treatment Funds
General Kahinda Otafiire has broken his silence on claims that he took money meant for the late Justice George Kanyeihamba’s medical treatment.
As political talk rises across the country, some people are spreading old lies again to damage reputations. But Otafiire has come out to set the record straight.
In a phone interview, Otafiire said the matter started many years ago when Justice Kanyeihamba told then Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda that he was sick. Rugunda then contacted Otafiire, who was the Minister of Justice at the time. Otafiire said they agreed to help Kanyeihamba through the Ministry of Justice because of his past service in government.
He explained that the ministry processed the money and informed Kanyeihamba to pick it up from the Solicitor General’s office. However, he said Kanyeihamba refused to go and collect it, even though he knew the process very well.
Otafiire stressed that he never handled any money personally. He said he was not an accounting officer and therefore had no power to receive, sign for, or give out government funds. He added that government now uses electronic transfers, not cheques, so those saying a cheque was issued are simply lying.
He also laughed off claims that Kanyeihamba once said he owed him Shs1.5 billion. Otafiire recalled how the late Justice brought journalists to his office but then jokingly asked them why they had come to visit his friend.
He insisted that the money was meant for Kanyeihamba’s treatment abroad and had nothing to do with campaigns or politics. He wondered why anyone would think Shs10 million could fund a political campaign in today’s Uganda.
In his own words, Otafiire said: “If you want to attack me politically, go ahead but don’t drag the name of a deceased man and public institutions into lies.”
He urged the public to focus on truth and stop following people who twist facts to score political points.
