MPs have warned ministers foreign affairs, Sam Kuteesa, okello Oryem , Assuman Kiyingi and the ministry officials over the un renewed contract of the ministry’s permanent secretary James Mugume.

Members of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs blocked ministry officials from presenting their budget after it was discovered that the permanent secretary was working on an expired contract.

The members said it would be against the constitution to listen to an ‘illegal’ accounting officer whose official appointment is in balance; and instead sent back the ministry officials to first sort out the issue before the budget can be scrutinized.

Article 174 of the constitution says that a Ministry or department of the Government of Uganda shall be under the supervision of a Permanent Secretary and he shall be appointed by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the Public Service Commission.

“As we deliberate on this Ministry’s budget, it is evident that the ministry does not have a permanent secretary because there is no letter to show that Mr Mugume was reappointed and I do not think we are procedurally right to continue with the process,” said Lwemiyaga county legislator, Theodore Ssekikubo [NRM].

Hood katuramu , said that although the committee had agreed to proceed with the budget allocation process the members had instead agreed put on hold the ministry’s budget until the anomaly is put right.

Minister Sam Kuteesa, acknowledged the anomaly and accepted the dismissal promised to rectify it and he promised the committee to return next week.

Ambassador James  Mugume’s contract expired in September last year but while responding to the committee members, he dismissed allegations that he has all along been illegally occupying the office saying that he has an appointment letter from the head of public service asking him to continue acting.

Rukiga MP Jack Sabiiti said it is not that Amb Mugume was appointed by the head of public service because he is just an appointed officer.

Ultimate Media