Kampala — THE Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) has been cited in the financial and administrative irregularities in Kampala Central Division.

A witness, Haji Moses Ssali, 55, the LC chairperson of Blue Room village on Namirembe Road, handed to the commission investigating the irregularities, a letter in which Kampala City Council (KCC) authorised the CMI to take over management of public toilets at Nakivubo Stadium while another contract was still valid.

He said: "The valid operator of those toilets is owino Vendors Welfare association." The body's treasurer, Abbey Mugali, added: "We have been managing the toilets since December 1, 2004. we remit sh1.2m to KCC every month."

The commissioners described CMI's involvement as abuse of office by acting deputy town clerk William Tumwine. Led by Irene Ovonji, they said: "We appreciate the importance of security but this is unacceptable."

Tumwine's June 20, 2007 letter, which Ssali presented, was addressed to the senior principal assistant clerk. It said: "The bearers of this letter are from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence - Anti-terrorism Section. They have identified the toilets as a strategic facility to enable them monitor security downtown, especially the Blue Room area, taxi parks, Baganda Bus Park and Park Yard areas.

"This office has no objection to their request provided council continues to receive her revenue. I am forwarding the matter to you under strict confidential cover to handle," the letter, copied to the Central Division chairperson, said.

Ssali said: "All tenders in KCC expired years ago. Others were illegally extended, for example, UTODA's and St. balikuddembe (Owino) Market expired with arrears of sh3b. KCC has been inefficient for 10 years in collection of money from toilets."

Another complainant, Francis Kasasira, a brother to former Cranes/KCC football club player, Fred Mugisha, said his late brother's contract to manage the toilets in the New Taxi Park was "unfairly taken away by then mayor Ssebaana Kizito and Central Division chairperson Charles Sserunjogi in 2002 and given to the DP (Democratic Party) youth brigade led by Kakande and Kamulegeya."

Kasasira added that they had an arrangement for Mugisha's next of kin to manage the toilets to look after his family. "I was up to date with payments to KCC (sh5.5m per month) and for utilities like water and electricity," he said.

The commission also grilled officials of Phone Link Uganda over reports that it forces phone operators to pay about sh400,000 per year to operate in the city, in spite of a KCC warning. There are at least 1,000 operators in the city.