Govt should stop dubious payoffs
On Tuesday it emerged that the Ministry of Finance has set aside Shs11b in the Budget for the Ministry of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and National Guidance for the financial year 2018/2019 to pay businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba’s firm, Haba Investments, as compensation for losses he suffered in his botched attempt to grab Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) land. The land in question is plots 8-10, 12-16 and 18-20 on Faraday Road in Bugolobi.
The Secretary to the Treasury, Mr Keith Muhakanizi, told the Parliamentary Committee on Information Communication Technology (ICT), that the pay would be drawn from the proposed budgetary allocation to an already underfunded UBC.
Mr Muhakanizi attempted to justify the proposed payoff with a claim that he has been under immense pressure from the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, who has reportedly penned three letters, the last having come earlier this month, directing him to pay off Haba Investments.
This is yet another attempt at finding a way of emptying public coffers, but the country does not need this at this point in time.
First of all, this matter was put to bed, at least legally, on June 24, 2014, when Justices of the Supreme Court led by Justice Bart Katureebe, threw out a proposed settlement that had been reached by Haba Investments and UBC.
The Justices said they could not sanction a settlement that was emanating from a case in which the High Court and the Court of Appeal had earlier arrived at the conclusion that the attempt to purchase the land from UBC had been fraught with illegalities.
Had the Supreme Court sanctioned the settlement, it would have validated those illegalities. The Justices did not fall into the trap. It is doubtable that she wrote the letters pushing the Ministry of Finance to execute the illegal payment, but if she did, she has fallen into the trap that the Justices avoided, for which she must be condemned.
In the same breath, public servants at Mr Muhakanizi’s level, should not be implementing illegal directives in the name of “orders from above”. Those who breach the law in the name of obeying “orders from above” should face sanctions.
At the same time, those who endorse payoffs such as Mr Muhakanizi and the Ministry of Finance are proposing in the name of “pressure from above”, should be held personally responsible for loss of public funds and made to repay such monies. The wanton abuse of public funds must brought to an end.
The issue: Shs11b pay plan
Our view: Those who endorse payoffs such as Mr Muhakanizi and the Ministry of Finance are proposing in the name of “pressure from above”, should be held personally responsible for loss of public funds and made to repay such monies.
