On Tuesday, a six-person panel began looking into allegations that funds from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria were mismanaged by Uganda's Health Ministry. On Aug. 24, the Global Fund suspended funding to Uganda after its accountants, who were reviewing one of five grants to the country, reported problems. That prompted President Yoweri Museveni to order an inquiry into the allegations.

Vowing "to pursue the truth," High Court Judge James Ogoola said his team has started interviewing government officials and plans to hold public hearings and complete the inquiry by Nov. 6. "Allegations of fraud, abuse of funds and straightforward theft are sad ... Such theft is not different from stealing from a dead man's coffin," Ogoola told journalists.

Prior to the suspension, the Global Fund had earmarked $201 million to help Uganda treat HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria patients. Of the total, $45.4 million had been disbursed. The suspension does not affect the procurement of AIDS drugs and condoms.

The Global Fund said it would disburse the remaining grant money if Uganda's Finance Ministry submits by October's end a new spending plan that includes disbanding the Health Ministry's Project Management Unit, which managed the grants.

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