Parliament renews contract of private firm to audit Auditor General

The decision was unanimously reached following a motion by Ms Robinah Nabbanja (NRM, Kakumiro) who also doubles as a Commissioner of Parliament. File photo

What you need to know:

  • Dr Jobra Mulumba, the managing partner of Kisaka & Co. Certified Public Accountants told Daily Monitor that the renewal of the contract was a demonstration of trust on the side of their client.

Parliament on Wednesday renewed the Contract of Kisaka and Company Certified Accountants, to audit the Office of the Auditor General.
The decision was unanimously reached following a motion by Ms Robinah Nabbanja (NRM, Kakumiro) who also doubles as a Commissioner of Parliament.
The contractor will scrutinise accountability documents relating to three financial years.

“Parliament appoints M/s Kisaka and Company Certified Public Accountants to audit the accounts of the office of the Auditor General for the period running from financial years 2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020,” reads the motion in part.
Mr Chris Obore, the director of Communications and Public Affairs of Parliament told Daily Monitor that Kisaka, beat M/S Dovey and Florey Associates to take the job.
“Five companies picked the documents but only two bided,” he said.

This is the second time the company has been hired to audit the Auditor General, the first being in 2017.
Parliament is mandated by Article 163(9) of the Constitution and Section 36 of the National Audit Act, 2008, to appoint an auditor to audit the accounts of the Office of the Auditor General.
While presenting the motion, Ms Nabbanja said that Parliament was leading by example on procurement compliance.

She said that the Parliamentary Commission invited bids through the Open International Bidding method in which M/S Kisaka emerged best evaluated bidder.
The motion was seconded by Usuk County MP Peter Ogwanga NRM.)
However, before the motion was adopted, Mr Nandala Mafabi (FDC, Budadiri East) argued that the Company be thoroughly investigated to confirm that there was no conflict of interest.

“The auditor general appoints private auditors to audit on his behalf, there is a conflict of interest which we must sort now; is Kisaka not one of the auditors shortlisted to provide private services to the auditor general,” Mr Mafabi said.
The deputy speaker, Mr Jacob Oulanyah said that the approval implies that the contractor, if shortlisted by the office of the Auditor General, will have to be dropped.

Contractor speaks out
Dr Jobra Mulumba, the managing partner of Kisaka & Co. Certified Public Accountants told Daily Monitor that the renewal of the contract was a demonstration of trust on the side of their client.
“This gives us confidence in our competitiveness and it is a sign of trust that we did a good job,” said Dr Mulumba.

He refuted allegations of possibility of a conflict of interest.
“We have not worked for the auditor general for the last 15 years, and there is no way we could have qualified because this was one of the preconditions,” he said.