Abdu Katuntu the Bugweri County MP

The Committee Chaired by Bugweri County MP Abdul Katuntu told  the NFA officials to leave the meeting room  after realizing that they were not ready to satisfactorily to respond to the auditor general report queries for the financial 2014/15.

Katuntu says that they wanted the NFA   to avail to the committee its asset register, financial manual for verification to see whether its land is not exposed land grabbers.

Katuntu says that most of the land held by public institutions is at risk of being taken illegally by land grabbers, noting that some land is illegally taken by people working in those same institutions.

However, while leaving the room,  Mugisha told journalists that the office is ready to avail all the detailed  accountability as demanded by members of parliament.

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The Committee Chairperson,  Angeline Osegge (Soroti) urged Members to actively participate in committee activities especially upcoming workshops which she said will enhance their capability in handling sensitive accountability questions.

Hon.Angeline Osegge and Hon. Winfred Kizza at the Hand Over Ceremony for the Public Accounts Committee Chairperson ship by Hon. Alice Alaso at Parliament.

“I welcome members from the Munyonyo workshop and also encourage you all to attend all other scheduled workshops which will widen our appreciation of handling accountability issues in line with our mandate,” Osegge said.

She also informed Committee Members about a two-day workshop organised by Office of the Auditor General which commences on August 15, 2016.

According to a July 27th  letter from Office of the Auditor General addressed to the Public Accounts Committee Chairperson, the workshop is intended to sensitize members of accountability committees on key highlights of the Audit Report for the Financial Year 2014/2015.

“It is will also provide guidance to committees for developing work plans to discuss the Audit Report effectively,” reads the letter in part.

The Committee, which was also scheduled to meet officials from Ministries of Internal Affairs and Local Government, adjourned after the officials declined to attend and instead proposed different dates.

Mazuri County Member of Parliament Hon. Akora Maxwell, also a Committee member, requested the Committee to reject dates set by officials meant to appear before them but rather move in line with appointments set by the Committee.

“I wonder whether it is proper for the officials to choose when to appear before us,” said MP Akora, before adding  that according to the current backlog, officials’ response to summons from the Committee must be swift and prompt.

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Winnie Kizza the Woman MP for Kasese and also the Leader of Opposition in Parliament of Uganda and outgoing chairperson accounts committee of parliament.

Speaking to Journalists at Parliament during the handover ceremony for the parliamentary committee on local government accounts, the Opposition’s Chief whip Winfred Kiiza, said that they had observed that change of leadership of this committee every after two years affects the tracking of accountabilities.

Kiiza handed over the office to the new bearer Reagan Okumu.

She said this in particular happens in government ministries where officials are often transferred and this makes it troublesome tracking them if the accounts committee leaves office within a short time.

She also said that redeployment of accounting officers like Chief Finance Officers (CFOS) and Chief Administrative Officers to other district before accounting for expenditure of the period of their operation is wrong because it is not easy to trace these officials to account for the funds for the previous districts.

Okumu, while receiving the new office said that his committee will stick to the Auditor General (AG) reports over the accountability of the district funds as a way of disposing off of the many pending reports to reduce the current backlog caused because of the many administrative units like districts, municipalities,sub counties and municipal councils.

He urged the whistle blowers to utilize the local government accounts committee to report contracts and donor funds what is perceived not accounted for.

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The public accounts committee has today grilled two more suppliers of the Office of the Prime Minister.

They are Zephaniah Robuk the director of Salgado Enterprises and Fabian Cassie the managing director Centenary Bank.

Paul Mwiru

The committee chaired by Jinja East MP Paul Mwiru discovered that Robuk was hired to supply beans and maize flour but he was paid much more money than he was meant to receive.

Mwiru revealed that Robuk received shs 352 million for items he did not supply.

Robuk said that he returned the money to the interdicted principle accountant Geoffrey Kazinda but failed to table evidence to the committee that shows that he returned the money.

Meanwhile the same committee has cleared Centenary Bank saying that the bank received the authority to open the said accounts from the permanent secretary Pius Bigirimana.

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The professionals together with academics and religious leaders have jointly submitted their views to the committee that is reviewing the Busoga constitution.

Led by Professor Andrew Bakibinga of Makerere University, the group argues that a such will enable the king to fully analyze issues with an independent mind as opposed to being directed.

He adds that this will also help the king to be firm and uphold the dignity of Busoga.

The professionals also proposed that the kings be elected for a 10 year renewal term for one who is below 65yrs  of age.

The constitutional review exercise ends in June and a draft paper will presented to stakeholders for final scrutiny before using it for fresh Kyabazinga polls according to the committee chairperson Shaban Muziransa.

Busoga constitutional review stemmed out of a disagreement over the Kyabazinga throne with a number of elections being contested in court over alleged failure to follow the kingdom constitution.

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The committee is considering summoning the first lady after she was named in the Auditor General’s Report among the people who allegedly used PRDP funds for private travels to Israel.

The report said she had traveled to Israel 9 times in one month using the said funds.

Now some MPs including Eddy Kiwzera say the committee has not concluded on the decision to invite Mrs Museveni, while others like Joseph Sewungu and Henry Musasizi say she must appear to give her side of the story.

The committee is expected to finalize its interactions with witnesses this week before coming up with a final report.

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The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu now fears to lose his post in the party. This follows last Sunday’s announcement by the FDC committee investigating complaints related to last year’s party presidential elections that it will start its inquiries into the matter on February 13.

The Budadiri west MP (FDC), Nandala Mafabi and his fellow MP for Tororo County, Geoffrey Ekanya filed separate petitions with the FDC top leadership over the conduct of the November 22 FDC internal elections which Gen. Muntu won.

The committee investigating electoral malpractice in FDC is led by Ladislaus Rwakafuzi, a prominent Kampala based lawyer. The committee was inaugurated last week by Mugisha Muntu in his capacity as the FDC party president to conduct inquiries within 30 days before submitting its report to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of FDC. The committee secretary is Peter Sempala. According to the sources in FDC head offices in Najjanakumbi, the first session of the committee will involve the formal presentation of petitions to the committee members.

The committee will convene at the party headquarters in Najjanakumbi on Kampala- Entebbe road. Sources told us that Nandala’s petition claims that the FDC Secretary General, Ms Alice Alaso, the head of the FDC Electoral Commission, Dan Mugarura, the current FDC president, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu and the FDC Deputy Finance Fecretary, Ms Anita Among rigged FDC party presidential polls in favour of the current party president.

Ends

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While appearing before the public accounts committee of parliament that is investigating financial mismanagement in the office of the Prime Minister Bigirimana said that it was the decision of the ministry of finance to transfer Wejula.

He however admitted that he reported the matter to the former prime minister who advised that the matter should be referred to the ministry of finance.

He says that it’s him that reported to the ministry of finance for action but not the former prime minister as it has been claimed.

Last week the deputy secretary to the treasury Keith Muhakanizi while appearing before the committee said that the decision to transfer Wejula came as a result of constant phone calls that he received from the Bigirimana and Apollo Nsibambi.

Related articles

• MPs increase pressure on government to force Bigirimana to step down
• Geoffrey Kazinda committed to High Court for trial
• Letter by Catholic Priest Fr. Gaetano Batanyenda against corruption in Ugnada

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According to the auditor general’s report of 2009/2010 the ministry officials  failed to produce the progress reports even after claiming to be having the performance report.

Members of the committee including Paul Mwiru, Vincent Kyamadidi and Henry Musasizi say that from the progress and performance report one can be able to find out more information about the delay in the project.

The permanent secretary for the ministry of internal affairs Steven Kagoda says that all the reports are with the electoral commission since it was the major implementer of the 1st phase.

He however promised to ensure that the electoral commission hands over the said reports to the committee.
Meanwhile the ministry is still looking for 110 billion shillings for the phase 2 of the project.

Kagoda says that the money will be used in paying off all contractual obligations, procurement of premises and installation of equipments and mass registration of all the citizens.

He however says that phase1 of the project was completed but phase 2 has failed to take off because there are no funds to kick start the process.

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A city lawyer Peter Kibirango has filed an application before court seeking to be allowed to serve the minister with the petition against her appointment through the newspapers.

Kibirango says he has taken all necessary steps to effect personal service to Nantaba in vain.

The lawyer filed a petition before court challenging the decision of Parliament’s appointment’s committee that cleared her to assume the position as minister.

He wants the decision of the committee that cleared Nantaba’s appointment to be set aside because it is inconsistent with several articles of the constitution.

Kibirango argues that the committee has already pronounced itself on the matter and has no mandate to revisit its mandate.

He says the matter should have been taken to the floor of Parliament for an appeal, which wasn’t done.

Kibirango is seeking interpretation of several sections of the constitution with a view of having Nantaba’s appointment cancelled.

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