Ex-OPM auditor to face MPS

Other sources said after meeting Kazinda, the politicians named in the Auditor General’s report on the scandal will also be interviewed. Mr Mbabazi is expected to be the first to appear to explain why the scam went undetected for two years and how his official car was bought using Peace, Recovery & Development Project money.

A former auditor said to have been forced out of office after raising a red flag about suspected graft in the Office of the Prime Minister is expected to testify before an investigating House committee today.

Accountant General Gustavio Bwoch last year told the Public Accounts Committee that Permanent Secretary Pius Bigirimana “pushed” the transfer of Mr Shaban Wejula, the then principal internal auditor in OPM.

Mr Bigirimana has since denied any wrongdoing and said Mr Wejula’s report on a scam believed to have led to the theft of Shs50 billion was not brought to his attention. He also accused Mr Wejula of soliciting bribes.
But PAC will today meet Mr Wejula together with the Commissioner Internal Audit in the Ministry of Finance, Mr Fixon Okonye.
Mr Okonye has previously testified before the committee where he maintained that Mr Wejula was frustrated by Mr Bigirimana. In his past testimony, Mr Okonye also acknowledged that a report was written on the scam but no action was taken.

The internal auditor’s testimony is expected to shed more light on the controversy surrounding his removal from the OPM.

Bwoch’s take
PAC last year heard from Mr Bwoch how Mr Wejula was branded “an incompetent officer” and a “fault finder” by Mr Bigirimana and subsequently removed with the knowledge of Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and his predecessor Prof. Apolo Nsibambi.

Mr Bwoch also said when he tried to transfer the former Principal Accountant Godfrey Kazinda, the official at the centre of the scam, from OPM to Gender, he was pressured into reinstating him.
A special audit by the Auditor General found substantial evidence detailing how aid from Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark intended for post-conflict recovery in northern Uganda and Karamoja sub-region was transferred to unauthorised accounts and abused. The government has since resolved to refund the funds to the donors.

Mr Paul Mwiru, the PAC vice chairman, told the Daily Monitor yesterday that the committee expects to meet Mr Kazinda next week as the inquiry reaches a critical stage.

Other sources said after meeting Kazinda, the politicians named in the Auditor General’s report on the scandal will also be interviewed. Mr Mbabazi is expected to be the first to appear to explain why the scam went undetected for two years and how his official car was bought using Peace, Recovery & Development Project money.

ymugerwa@ug.nationmedia.com