Ministers face eviction over non-payment of rent

At least eight ministers under the Office of the Prime Minister including the First Lady, Ms Janet Museveni, have two months to pay Shs480m in rent arrears to Posta Uganda or face eviction, Daily Monitor can reveal.
The parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises on February 1, wrote to Prof. Apolo Nsibambi warning him of impending eviction if his office fails to pay rental arrears for Postel Building on Clement Hill Road.

“…..we are directing the accounting officer Posta Uganda to recover the rental arreas of your office within not more than two months. Failure to amicably agree, Posta Uganda should resort to other means and evict your office with costs,” Committee Chairman Reagan Okumu’s letter reads in part.
Last week, the Director Posta Uganda, Mr James Arinaitwe told the committee that Posta Uganda was sinking with a debt of over Shs12 billion as a result of non-payment by government agencies occupying its income-generating facilities.

Other ministers who face eviction from the building, are; Tarsis Kabwegyere and Musa Ecweru (Relief), Janat Mukwaya (General Duties), Kabakumba Masiko (Information), Daudi Migereko (Chief Whip) , David Wakikona (northern Uganda) and Eriya Kategaya (East African Affairs).

How it started
The controversy over rent started after the Permanent Secretary at the OPM, Mr Pius Bigirimana, wrote to Mr Arinaitwe, on January 28, suspending payment of Shs480 million on claims that Postel Building needed emergency repairs.
After Mr Arinaitwe reported the matter to Parliament on January 27, the next day, Mr Bigirimana wrote to the Posta Uganda boss suspending the payment and warned him against fronting the Office of the Prime Minister.

He added: “…You’re reported to have told the Parliamentary Committee…that OPM has not paid rent for six months amounting to Shs480 million… you will recall that we wrote to you informing you of the unsatisfactory services….”
If Posta Uganda goes ahead to implement the Parliamentary order, on April 1 when the deadline expires, OPM—a government outfit supervising various ministries - is likely to be forced out of Postel Building, in apparent move that will disgrace the Government and subsequently affect service delivery in the country.

When contacted yesterday Mr Okumu said, his committee had already directed Posta Uganda to renovate all their properties and increase rent according to the current market value.