MPs task land probe team to account for Shs13 billion

Justice Catherine Bamugemereire. File photo

PARLIAMENT- Lawmakers yesterday asked the Commission of Inquiry into Land Matters in the country headed by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire to account for Shs13b so far spent before they can approve the team’s request for an additional Shs7.8 billion.

A host of enraged MPs were responding to Speaker Rebbecca Kadaga’s guidance to the Physical Infrastructure Committee where she stopped legislators from demanding accountability from the Commission until its investigations are complete.

Although Ms Kadaga said probing the Commission expenditure before it winds up its investigations into land matters would be premature and out of procedure, MPs, including non-committee members, vowed to petition the Budget Committee that will scrutinise the Shs7.8b supplementary funding.

Account
Mr Medard Lubega Sseggona (DP, Busiro East) reminded the land probe team about the significance of Public Finance Management Act and observed that the Speaker, in spite of her position, exercised a lot of powers to prevail over the committee’s mandate.

“The demand for accountability before approving their supplementary request is not misplaced. Accountability is a requirement in the Public Finance Management Act,” Mr Sseggona said.

“We are the appropriating authority, we set the terms because the Shs13b we have given them is a lot of money so they should justify why we should give them more.”

The Bukomansimbi Woman MP, Ms Veronica Nanyondo, also asked the team to account for public funds. “The good work of the Commission does not insulate them from providing accountability of funds they received. How are we going to know whether these funds were put to proper use?”

The Justice Bamugemereire-led land probe commission has been in the spotlight over fat allowances and lavish spending. The commissioners, however insist that they are doing a “special job” and that their investigations are expensive.

Although Mr Abdul Katuntu and other members backed Speaker Kadaga, for fear that accountability queries would ‘disorganise’ the commission and that, Auditor General will audit the Commission expenditures, Masaka Municipality MP, Mathias Mpuuga, a member of Public Accounts Committee, said “accountability is a must”.

“Commissions and projects need midterm accountability; post-mortems will not remedy a culture of impunity. How else do they explain the supplementary request, accountability is a must,” Mr Mpuuga said.

Others supporting the demand for accountability include Fort Portal Municipality MP Alex Ruhunda and Francis Mwijukye of Buhweju County.

However, the Opposition Attorney General, Mr Wilfred Nuwagaba, told Daily Monitor that whereas procedurally, Parliament considers the accountability as reported to it by the Auditor General, for proper usage of public funds, it would be prudent that ministries, commissions and agencies seeking supplementary budgets have their accounts audited first. This argument is also shared by Lwemiyaga County’s Theodore Ssekikubo, and Ajuri County’s Dennis Obua.

Heed Speakers’ advice
While some MPs have threatened to take the matter to the Budget Committee, Ms Lillian Nakate, the chairperson of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, said they have no option but to heed to the Speaker’s guidance.
“As an oversight Committee, we have done our part but since the Speaker has guided, we have to respect that and wait,” she said.

Funding
Counsel. Mr Abdul Katuntu and other members backed Speaker Kadaga for fear that accountability queries would ‘disorganise’ the Commission.
Different view. Masaka Municipality MP, Mathias Mpuuga, a member of Public Accounts Committee, said “accountability is a must.”
No option. Ms Lillian Nakate, the chairperson of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, said they have no option but to heed to the Speaker’s guidance.