Shs30b spies case: Ruhindi given 14 days to get solution
Former Attorney General Freddie Ruhindi is tipped to replace Dr Badru Kiggundu as chairman of the EC. File photo
Kampala. Attorney General Freddie Ruhindi has been tasked to study the various protracted legal and administrative cases over the payment of Shs29 billion to retired operatives of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and present his findings and recommendations in three weeks-time.
This was agreed on during a meeting between Presidency minister Frank Tumwebaze, Inspector General of Government Irene Mulyagonja, Mr Ruhindi, and Secretary to Treasury Keith Muhakanizi on Thursday.
The meeting also directed the ISO administration to immediately undertake a forensic audit of all beneficiaries, which will help determine eligibility for receiving the Shs29 billion balance when it is paid out by the Finance ministry.
Mr Tumwebaze told Sunday Monitor the Attorney General (AG) and the Solicitor General (SG) will study the myriad cases about the matter and advise on how to resolve the stalemate over the payment.
“This is a procedural requirement if we want to move forward. Otherwise if we insist, government stands exposed to more costs,” he said. “So for now, everything will remain as it is until we get the AG’s advice on the various legal contestations surrounding the case,” he added.
The background
Mr Tumwebaze was tasked by President Museveni to lead the discussions in 2013 after High Court awarded the former spies Shs72.4 billion in terminal benefits following their retirement in 1995.
In 2005, three former spies Bernard Kamugisha, Jamal Kitandwe and Jeff Kiwanuka, through their association Uganda Veterans of Internal Security Organisation (UVETISO), had sued government on behalf of 500 others seeking Shs72.4 billion in gratuity.
However, the President initiated out-of-court negotiations with the former state operatives and the claim was brought down to Shs39 billion. They were paid the initial Shs10 billion but the balance of Shs29b was halted on the orders of IGG Mulyagonja, following complaints of impropriety in distribution of the money to the beneficiaries until accountability for the initial Shs10b was presented to ministry of Finance.
