By Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda
27 October 2002
Kampala — Army Commander Maj. Gen. James Kazini failed to appear before Members of Parliament on Friday to account for about Shs 44.8m.
The MPs, who sit on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), had summoned Kazini to account for the money he diverted while he was still commanding Operation Save Haven that extended from western Uganda to DR Congo.
Kazini was supposed to appear with other Defence officials to answer queries raised by the Auditor General (AG) in his 1999 and 2000 annual reports.
"Your instructions were delivered but he is not available," Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Gabidandde Musoke reported to the MPs.
He said the army commander was in operation in northern Uganda.
The AG had reported a diversion of Shs 61m, which was unclaimed salaries for soldiers.
The PAC accepted accountability for Shs 17m, which Kazini used to buy a vehicle for the pay unit without military tender board.
Defence reported that Shs 44,800,000 was applied to operational needs to fight ADF rebels.
Deputy Army Chief of Staff Col. Fred Tolit told MPs that he had received information that Kazini's assistant that the army commander was in southern Sudan.
This is the second time Kazini failed to honour the committee's summons. After failing to get Kazini, the committee pounced on Gabindadde and threatened to hold him accountable should he fail to compel the army commander to account for the money.
The PS has the constitutional mandate to account for the money released to his ministry.
"If you can't handle Kazini, we are not going to handle him for you. We shall sit here and pass the judgement," said Committee Chairman Dr. Okulo Epak.
Defence also tendered in evidence relating to forceful recovery of funds from two senior army officers; Lt. Gen. Jeje Odongo and Capt. Charles Byaruhanga.
The two were advanced more than Shs 2m but failed to account for it.
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