A report yet to be published by the Auditor General reveals massive fraud in the Kampala Capital City Authority.
The 151 page report reveals that the executive director Jennifer Ssemakula Musisi was paid over time worth over 20 million shillings for the period March to June 30th 2011 and yet she is a public officer with a fixed salary which automatically exempts her from overtime payment.
The audit report for the period 2011-2012 is dated 28th January 2012 and is expected to be tabled before Parliament.
The Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago who got a copy says the tabling of the report is being delayed because President Yoweri Museveni reportedly held a meeting with Musisi in which they agreed to make a few changes before it is made public.
Musisi took office on the April 15th 2011 and within two and a half months, the report reveals that she paid enormous amounts of money to herself and the transitional team she joined with. Lukwago wonders why he and other Mayors are not receiving over time pay since they attend cocktail dinners and weddings in official capacities.
The Uganda Pubic Service Standing Order 2010 which provides for over time states that the salary of a public officer, save for the support staff, is fixed on assumption that his or her time is at the disposal of government and if his or her office hours are insufficient it’s their duty to work over time without extra remuneration.
It adds that in one incident alone the driver earned overtime allowance almost three times his monthly pay. The drivers include Shakarim Male, Musisi’s driver who earns a monthly pay of 1.8 million, but he earned 5.2 million shillings in overtime in one month.
In its analysis the report reveals that for the period 1st March to 30th June 2011, over time allowances were 63% totaling 303 million of the normal pay for lunch and transport allowance which is a huge expense given the public service standing orders.
The report also reveals payments made to the transitional team also known as consultants who were recruited in four levels including experts, technical officers and support staff. It was noted that there were no particular job skill requirements and standard qualifications set for the different recruitment levels for the team.
Among the experts, Julius Raymond Kabugo Julius who is Director of Finance had only worked in Uganda Revenue Authority for six years after University and did not have the required 15 years experience in consultation and expertise.
The report shows that Isaac Sempebwa with bachelors of laws pass degree was appointed as a legal officer yet he had no experience to his credit and does not qualify for any public service employment.
The report further reveals irregular payments of former URA officers on the KCCA transitional team. The officers drew two salaries from both organisations yet they were serving KCCA in full capacity until their deletion in 2011-12 financial year. The five officers earned 78.4 million shillings from KCCA irregularly for the above period.
They include Julius Raymond Kabugo hired as an expert in public financial management and earned over 30.2 million shillings within six months. Musoke Kibuuka, a consultant in strategic planning and risk management received 26.8 million shillings, while Chrito Asimwe, a technical officer in public financial management bagged 10.8 million. Peter Kaujju, the public relations manager got 2.4 million shillings and Namuli Lwanga, a procurement consultant got 7.9 million shillings.
The report also details illegal payment to non KCCA staff worth 106.4 million shillings. The period under review shows the money was paid to Lukambuzi Jacob, the head of monitoring and inspection unit. On verification of the activities it was observed that his unit among others does not exist in the KCCA structures.
Musisi also set aside 30 million shillings for her office for emergency for two months and paid off contracts worth 35 billion shillings without the approval of the solicitor general.
Lukwago says the auditor general’s report is a testimony that all is not well at the Authority. He is demanding that the report be made public and laid before Parliament as it is and action be taken against Musisi and her team.
By Isaac Senabulya