Bigirimana: MPs want answers from Kiwanuka
Deputy Secretary to the Treasury Keith Muhakanizi (R) and the Accountant General Gustavo Bwoch appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to answer queries concerning stolen funds in Prime Minister’s office. PHOTO BY GEOFFREY SSERUYANGE
Legislators on the Parliamentary Finance committee Thursday demanded that the ministry of finance officials submit before them a written document explaining the mess at the Office of the Prime Minister and what action has so far been taken.
The legislators in a stormy meeting also demanded answers from the Minister of Finance, Ms Maria Kiwanuka on why the Permanent Secretary, Mr Pius Bigirimana, has remained in office despite calls that he steps aside to allow investigations continue.
The MPs noted that Mr Bigirimana’s continued stay in office is a big embarrassment to the country and directed that the minister writes to President Museveni as a matter of urgency to force the PS out of the office.
“As we argue about the theft of funds in the OPM’s office, Bigirimana is in office. We are not saying that he is a thief but he must take administrative responsibility,” said Mr Tim Lwanga (Kyamuswa).
Call to quit
The committee chairperson, Mr Robert Kasule Ssebunya (Kyaddondo North) wondered how the money left government coffers without the authorisation of the accounting officer and why it took him that long to detect the fraud.
“His failure to detect the fraud shows that he cannot handle that office,” he said.
A special audit by the Auditor General found substantial evidence detailing how aid from Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark was transferred to unauthorised accounts in a sophisticated scam which resulted into the theft of at least Shs50b.
The donors have since suspended aid over the scam and demanded that the missing funds be recovered.
Other legislators asked the minister to tell MPs how her officials connived with other public servants in senior offices to abuse tax payers’ money.
But Ms Kiwanuka remained silent on the call for Bigirimana to step aside as investigations continue.
The secretary to the treasury, Mr Chris Kasami also declined to comment on Bigirimana’s fate but later told legislators that they would make their recommendations known to the committee after consultations.
MPs raised concerns to the effect that donors were cutting aid because government had refused to take action on Mr Bigirimana. However, Ms Kiwanuka said: “We are in touch with the donors and they agree that government is committed to cleaning up the entire system. All this dust coming up is because government has been open and transparent and we are in talks to see how we can open up the disbursement channels.”
She said her ministry was giving support to the investigations. “We are working with World Bank, the police, IMF, and other investigators to ensure that all the systems are strengthened. We have also directed Bank of Uganda to seek guidance from the Federal Bank of South Africa which had the same problem to see how it was handled,” she said.
Ms Kiwanuka admitted that the money was being disbursed by the ministry and receipts received but there was no value for money.
