MP Abdu Katuntu

The Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises queried the expenditure of Bank of Uganda during this year’s 50 years celebrations.

MPs while interfacing with the Bank of Uganda officials led by the Governor, Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebire, said during the procurement of items and services for Bank of Uganda celebrations of 50 years there procurements found necessary that were done outside the normal procurements raising questions from MPS why they were not done in normal way.

MPS on the committee chaired by Bugweri County MP, Abdul Katuntu, are querying the procurement of pens for the Bank of Uganda celebration at 100 dollars each.

On look of the pen MPs are suspicious that were designed in the US and made in china and are considering handing over some of the pens to Auditor general for purposes of authentication.

MPS are also questioning the accountability of 700 million shillings   used by Bank of Uganda for school challenge, 100 million shillings paid for a cocktail and 144 million shillings paid for accommodation for the guests who came for the celebrations.

The committee also directed bank of Uganda officials to submit to the committee all the 154 internal audit reports and 17 tender contracts since 2014 to 2016 for scrutiny.

The committee allocates three days scrutiny of Bank of Uganda over internal audits and tender contracts to ensure proper accountability of the funds.

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Business man Karim Hirji of the Imperial group of hotels.

Business man Karim Hirj last week confirmed that the 262 million shillings given to him by President to purchase a transformer during the 2007 Common Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) was a gift.

Karim told this to a team of four MPs who had been sent by the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) which is chaired by Bugweri County MP, Abdul Katuntu, at Imperial Royale hotel to verify the status of the transformer in question.

President Yoweri Museveni in 2007 before the hosting of CHOGM directed the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to advance the money to Karim’s Hotel Imperial Royal to buy a transformer so as to light up the hotel that was among those identified to host guests.

The auditor general’s report of 2014/15 queried the action stating that it was public money which should be refunded by Karim to REA.

Imperial Royal Hotel that President Museveni directed Rural Electrification Authority to give over 200 million Uganda shillings for the purchase of a transformer.

After the fact finding tour by MPs on COSASE on whether the transformer bought was still functioning at Imperial Royal Hotel, Karim informed MPs that he even has a letter that states that the transformer was a donation.
However, Katuntu insisted that anyone who used public money whether in a form of donation or grant, he or she has to pay back thus summoning Karim to appear before the committee on Thursday this week.

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President Yoweri Museveni.

President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni last week appealed to the Parliamentary Commission to consider extending the payment of pensions and gratuities to include all the former MPs not just those of the 9th and 10th Parliament.

Museveni said this recently during the Golden Award Ceremony of 1162 MPs who served the country right from the 1st to the 9th Parliament when Uganda celebrated its golden Jubilee.

The President says the government cannot fail to look after 1,000 people who in the last 50 years made a contribution to the development of this country.

The appeal was made when one of the Golden Jubilee Medalists asked that as former legislators, Parliament considers also accompanying their awards with some token of appreciation in form of money.

Mathias Nsubuga, the former Bukoto South MP expressed the need for a resource envelop that can cater for families of former MPs most of whom cannot cater for themselves.

Another MP, Gilbert Oulanya, the Kilak County Member of Parliament did not also differ much saying that government needed to do more for these families either by either schooling their children than giving simply empty medals.

Meanwhile former Rubaga South MP, John Ken Lukyamuzi does not support attaching monetary value to the medal. Lukyamuzi was however, among the few opposition politicians who turned up to receive the medals.
He said boycotting the ceremony is meaningless and he received a medal not for President, Yoweri Museveni but for his own contribution to Uganda’s democratic struggle.

Some of the prominent opposition politicians including Dr. Kizza Besigye, wife Winnie Byanyima, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party President Mugisha Muntu, Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Winfred Kiiza  did not show up  for the Golden Jubilee medal awarding ceremony.

Others are Democratic Party (DP) president and former Gulu Municipality MP Norbert Mao, former Mbarara Woman MP Miria Matembe, former Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago and others.

The awarding occasion is provided for under the National Honours Award Act, 2001.

The medalists were read out by, General Elly Tumwine who is the Chairperson of the Presidential Awards Committee.

Museveni was later invited to decorate the medalists who were recognised for work done in building Uganda’s democracy.

However, Gen.Tumwine cautioned those who received the medals to handle them with care and put them on with pride since they remain a property of the republic of Uganda.

About 300 Members of Parliament since 1962 to 2012 did not pick their Golden Jubilee award medals, though 600 million shillings was injected in for their procurement and preparations to about 1400 beneficiaries.

Reports from the officials who were giving out invitation cards and identification tags to the beneficiaries of the medals say that most of the Opposition MPs shunned the awarding ceremony and hence causing wastage of funds used for making   invitation cards, identification tags and booking eats they said.

The award is in recognition of the present and former MPs for their contribution to the democratization of the country and some of them missed the medals due to lack of transport facilitation especially to those who served in the first Parliaments.

The awarding ceremony held at Serena hotel on Monday and officiated by the President was attended by few opposition MPs because others did not want to associate with the President and prefer to pick them after without the President’s hand shake.

Among of those who boycotted the function include; the former  Democratic Party President, Dr.Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere,John Sebana Kizito ,Mukono Municipality MP, Betty Nambooze Bakireke ,Leader of Opposition Winfred Kiiza ,Kampala Central MP, Mohammed Nsereko , Erias Lukwago ,Bugweri County MP, Abdul Katuntu ,Soroti Woman MP, Angelina Ossege ,Lubaga North MP, Moses Kasibante ,Busiro South MP,  Merdad Segona ,Masaka Municipality MP, Mathias Mpuga among others.

Others are the former FDC Leader, Dr.Kiiza Besigye’s wife Winnie Byanyima ,former Leader of Opposition, Wafula Oguttu  and Latigo Ogenga ,Democratic Party President, Norbert Mao ,former Mbarara district MP, Maria Matembe among others.

The few opposition MPs who attended the function include the Kilak North MP,  Gilbert Oulanya, Kasilo County MP, Elijah Okupa ,Lira district Woman MP, Joy Atim , Aswa County MP, Regan Okumu among others.

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