The others are state Minister Bright Rwamirama, Presidential advisor John Nagenda and one Mike Mawanda, among others.

They all denied charges of abuse of office and causing financial loss of over 14billion shillings to the government of Uganda.

The three Kutesa, Nasasira and Rukutana are alleged to have passed the decision for government to fully fund the construction of drive ways, parking areas and a marina at Munyonyo Speke Resort Hotel, without the mandate of cabinet.

Their lawyers include Joseph Byamugisha, Didas Nkuruzinza, Oscar Kambona and Edwin Karugyire.

Their court appearance comes just a day after they asked the President to allow them step aside from their ministerial duties, to allow the court process continue without interference.

This is the second high profile prosecution arising out of CHOGM, the first being that of former Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya.

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They noted that both institutions are grossly understaffed making monitoring and implementation of all the laws against corruption a milestone.

The IGG urged MPs to always move beyond paper accountability and conduct physical inspection to establish works undertaken by contracted companies and individuals.

Baku warned legislators not to overstep their mandate by undertaking to investigate cases of graft and abuse of office which is legally under the office of the IGG.

Legislators urged the Police and IGG to exercise their mandate with impartiality citing several cases where the institutions had failed to conclusively investigate cases.

The joint interactive meeting sought to improve working relations between the oversight committees of Parliament and the government departments of CID, IGG and DPP.

Ultimate Media

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IGG Raphael Baku

Legislators have expressed anger that many of the suspects are cleared by the IGG with a handful being prosecuted in the courts of law.

Members of the ninth Parliament, MPs Muhammad Nsereko (Kampala), Nebanda  Cerinah (Butaleja) and Lukyamuzi Ken(Rubaga South)said the IGG should be impartial in executing his constitutionally delegated duties.

They reaffirmed the need for reduction in duplication of duties and the need to separate politics from the work of the IGG.

But IGG Raphael Baku says the fight against corruption can drastically reduce if improvements in the wages of civil servants are undertaken by government. He says the meager pay checks for many of the public servants places them in vulnerable positions.

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The special Auditor General’s report dated April 2008 and the report of the Parliamentary public Accounts Committee had implicated Mbabazi who was then security minister and chair of the CHOGM security sub-committee

The two reports indicated that the Tetra Communication system was procured before Parliament had approved the ICT loan used in the purchase and that the expenditure of 5 million dollars on the system was also not declared to the Auditor General for Audit as required by law

IGG Raphael Baku

The reports had also indicated that the Procurement was influenced by Amama Mbabazi resulting into flouting of the PPDA Regulations leading to loss of USD 1,800,000 to the Government of Uganda

The two reports had concluded that Mbabazi be punished for abuse of office and influence peddling

However a report released by the inspectorate of government after carrying out an investigation indicates that the procurement procedures for the Security Communication System for CHOGM were in line with the PPDA Act

The report notes that while the expenditure was initially not audited under the approved CHOGM budget in 2008 the expenditure was later audited in 2009 and verified through a special audit concluding that there was no evidence to pin Amama Mbabazi for conflict of interest, and influence peddling

The Inspectorate also indicates that there was no loss of funds and that M/s Balton (U) Ltd supplied more items than what was indicated in the agreement and that the System was delivered in time for CHOGM.

In conclusion the inspectorate says the file about Amama Mbabazi be closed since no case has been established for prosecution or Disciplinary act

By Isaac Senabulya

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According to the July to December 2010 report, corruption cases and mismanagement of public funds are on the increase.

The IG says the investigations carried out are based on complaints received from the public, review of audit reports, media reports as well as information from whistle blowers with a total of 1,042 new complaints.

IGG Raphael Baku

Baku says the IGG’s office managed to investigate 557 and referring 127 to other institutions noting that mismanagement and misappropriation of public resources account for (19.9%) abuse of office (15.6%) non payment of salary (12.6%) service delivery delay (6.3%) among others.

He also adds that during the period under review, 26 public officers were arrested for various corruption offences who are now under prosecution in court.

In the report, the IGG recommends that errant officers should be summoned to answer before parliament, and that the government should adequately fund and make timely release of funds to its departments and ministries among others.

IGG states that he is done with his investigations on the mismanagement of CHOGM funds by government officials and by the end of next month he will be out with his final actions against those implicated in the report with seven (7) files already opened up.

Early this year, parliament exonerated ministers who were implicated in the auditor general’s report for having mismanaged the funds, but IGG Rafeal Baku slaps the act by legislators saying both departments act independently and assures that soon he is coming out with the final statement upon the officers.

He also says that two directorates have been instituted in his office to track down on errant officers both at local government and central government levels.

By Isaac Senabulya

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IGG Raphael Baku

The IGG, Raphael Baku, says they studying the parliamentary report on the financial scandal surrounding the 2007 commonwealth heads of government meeting in Kampala and will shortly recommend if any of the ministers involved should be prosecuted for corruption related crimes.

Among the officials implicated by the PAC report is the Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, the Minister of Security Amama Mbabazi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa, the Minister Works and Transport John Nasasira and minister for Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries Hope Mwesigye.

Meanwhile, the IGG has also given political parties three months to declare their financial strength within which the law requires them to do so.

Baku made the recommendation while releasing the first annual report on corruption trends in the country.

The 100 paged documents recommend a standard time frame of 60 days within which to investigate and prosecute corruption cases. It also indicates increased signs of silent corruption which is a failure of public servants to deliver goods and services.

The report appreciates the strong structures put in place to fight corruption but raises concerns about their implementation by the relevant organs of the government.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias

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