MPs pin Otafiire as pension probe ends

Parliament. Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Kahinda Otafiire yesterday defended himself against accusations in the pension scam that he used his office to help Mr Bob Kasango, a lawyer, to obtain Shs15.4 billion from Ministry of Public Service using fictitious court documents.
Maj Gen Otafiire, who was appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), however, said one of the letters used in the scam was forged.
The MPs led by Ms Alice Alaso (Serere Woman) faulted him for failing to consult the Attorney General on the authenticity of the documents presented for payment from Mr Kasango.

“I know the first letter (September 29, 2011) to ministry of Finance on where the money should come from but the second letter (October 13, 2011) to Ministry of Public Service is tricky. The signature has the word MP and it’s not part of my signature block, I don’t use such letters. I only use Kahinda Otafiire Major Gen retired and there is no MP,” Gen Otafiire said.
Ms Alaso told the minister that although Mr Kasango alluded to an out of court settlement with Attorney General’s Chambers in a representative capacity, the AG and the Solicitor General told PAC and CIID that they have never participated in any court proceedings.

Gen Otafiire, however, said Public Service should have done due diligence, and that Kasango’s request was a policy and not a legal matter.
Gen Otafiire insisted that he sought the advice of his former principal legal adviser whom he identified as Mr Suza.
Appearing before PAC, the interdicted commissioner for pensions in Public Service ministry, Mr Stephen Kiwanuka Kunsa, tabled two letters, one addressed to Ministry of Finance and another to the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Public Service. Mr Kunsa said the letters were used as a basis to pay the money.

Mr Otafiire is the last witness in an investigation that has taken almost a month. The Justice minister told MPs that he knew Mr Kasango as an advocate of the High Court and, therefore, saw no reason to doubt the court order he presented for payment.
He also said he knew Justice John Eudes Keitirima, who had purportedly signed the court order in question. It is Justice Keitirime when he appeared before PAC who disowned the court order and insisted that his signature was forged although Mr Kasango insisted that the judge signed the document.

The background
A conspiracy believed to involve officials at the ministries of Finance and Public Service, Bank of Uganda, Cairo Bank and the East African Community Beneficiaries Association in which at least Shs165b meant for pensioners was stolen came to light around April 2013. The probe led by CIID unearthed a racket involving bank officials. At least Shs165b had been withdrawn from Cairo Bank by the time the racket was busted, and the more than 3,000 entitled pensioners had not received a penny.

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