Following the Agriculture Minister’s orders, National Animal Genetic Resource Centre and Data Bank (NAGRIC & DB) board of directors has Wednesday appointed Dr. Anthony Ntaate for assignment of duties of executive director as an interim measure.
Ntaate’s interim appointment follows interdiction of Dr Charles Lagu from duty until determination of criminal charges against him.
On May 6, the Minister of Agriculture, Vincent Sempijja interdicted Dr Lagu having been jailed on alleged cases of abuse of office, obtaining money by false pretense, causing financial loss to government and conspiracy to defraud.
Ssempijja cited the gravity of the offences and Public Service Standing Orders.
“Considering the gravity of the alleged offences against you and in line with Section F-s. 8 of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders. I have decided to interdict you from duty with immediate effect, to pave way for investigations to take place unhindered,” the interdiction letter read.
Lagu is jointly charged with his juniors; Mr. Philip Ezekiel Mukani, the procurement officer, Olivious Komujuni (Animal Husbandry Officer).
Dr. Ntaate graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) from Makerere University (1997-2003). After graduation, he worked as a volunteer Project Officer with Community Integrated Development Initiatives (CIDI) a not-for-profit organisation helping farmers to fight poverty in Uganda through sustainable agriculture
Between September 2007 and April 2012, he worked as the Veterinary Officer for Isingiro District in Western Uganda.
Between 2009 and August 2011 he pursued a Master’s Degree in Food Safety at the North Dakota State University in the United States. Following graduation, he worked as Research Assistant at the University until August 2011 when he returned home. He later joined the National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) as an Animal Health and Production Scientist until 2018 when he joined NAGRC & DB
