Sheila Naturinda
6 November 2008
Kampala — The Ministry of Finance is having an administrative crisis since the Minister, Dr Ezra Suruma, got involved in the NSSF-Temangalo crisis three months ago.
Inside information within the ministry headquarters in Kampala indicates that top executives, who are meant to meet weekly, have not met since the break of the story involving Dr Suruma and Security Minister Amama Mbabazi.
The sources, who did not want to be mentioned for fear of interdiction, also indicated that the reason could be because the minister has been very busy lobbying for his survival as some MPs seem ready to censure him after his role in the land sale.
"We have not sat for three months but I personally don't know why. Whether it is Temangalo or not, we are in a terrible crisis," a source from the ministry said.
In March 2008, NSSF bought 463 acres of land from Mr Mbabazi and city businessman Amos Nzeyi at Shs11 billion, a purchase that was seen as flouting the procurement rules in government statutory bodies.
The minister chairs the weekly meetings himself but sources indicate that he has not even delegated any one of the top executive members to either chair the meetings in his absence nor has he indicated reason for his absence.
The top executive comprises of all ministers, commissioners and directors, permanent secretary Charles Kassami, and secretary to the treasury, Keith Muhakanizi.
Mr Muhakanizi declined to comment on the matter when contacted and efforts to reach Mr Kassami on phone were futile as he could not pick repeated calls.
However, Mr Fred Jachan Omach, the State Minister for Finance in charge of general duties denied the allegations.
"We have been meeting as scheduled and everything is moving on smoothly and normal," he said.
Dr Suruma, who was not in office at the time, could be got as he also could not answer calls made onto his phone.
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