MPs to probe Shs150b South Sudan payments

Parliament. Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga yesterday announced a Select Committee to investigate alleged irregularities in the handling of a $41m (about Shs151b) kitty to clear Ugandan companies that supplied goods and services to individuals and the South Sudan government.
Parliament last week resolved to institute a Select Committee to investigate the payments after MPs raised the red flag over the criteria that was used to choose the 10 companies that have already benefitted from a Shs10b payment.
Chua West MP Okin Ojara questioned why the government has taken long to draft an addendum of additional companies to benefit from the payment, a criteria that had been endorsed by a parliamentary resolution as a requirement before any company is paid.
Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal claimed that the 10 companies that were selected to get a Shs10b payment had the same individuals, warning that there could have been duplication with some beneficiaries raking in double payments.
“Why are you only picking 10 companies which were even paid earlier on? When you look at the analysis, you will find that the 10 companies have the same individuals circulating,” Ms Ogwal said.
Ms Kadaga yesterday announced that the Select Committee will be chaired by the Kyankwanzi Woman MP Anne Maria Nankabirwa and will report to Parliament in 45 days.
Other members of the Committee will be Kiiza Stella (NRM, Kyegegwa District), Herbert Ariko (FDC, Soroti Municipality), Maurice Kibalya (NRM, Bugabula South), Kyomuhendo Mbabazi (NRM, Kagadi District) and Mathias Mpuuga (DP, Masaka Municipality).
Ms Kadaga ruled that the Committee will “lift the veil and verify the actual beneficiaries of the money following the bilateral agreements and also establish the criteria of selection and methodology by the government in selecting the beneficiaries.