Yasiin Mugerwa
10 July 2009
Makerere University's deputy vice-chancellor in charge of finance and administration, Prof. David Bakibinga and the University Secretary, Mr Sam Akorimo, were yesterday subjected to a fresh criminal inquiry over their role in the collapse of a Shs2 billion fence at the institution.
The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee accused the two officials of submitting forged details, in which Prof Bakibinga, who had been implicated by the Public Procurement and Disposal and Public Assets, was cleared through unclear circumstances.
"These people tampered with evidence and have given us forged documents to run away from justice," the committee chairperson, Mr Nandala Mafabi, said. "We have sent Prof. Bakibinga and Mr Akorimo to record statements with the Criminal Investigation Directorate and ordered for an investigation into their role in the collapse of the fence where taxpayers lost millions."
The Auditor General questioned why Shs34.4 million meant for maintenance of university houses and roads was diverted to construction of the 133-metre fence that collapsed in September 2007 following a downpour.
The PPDA, in its November 2007 report, implicated Prof. Bakibinga, together with the university estates manager, Eng. Edson Mpango and another official, Mr Andrew Sserunjogi in the botched project. The two have since been interdicted but Prof. Bakibinga, who pleads innocence, remains in office.
The MPs yesterday rejected a December 18, 2007 report by Technology Consults Ltd (Teco); a firm owned by Makerere's Faculty of Engineering, which was appointed on October 25, 2007 by the University Council to investigate the collapse, saying the company directors were staff members of the university; whose impartiality was compromised. "It was wrong for Makerere to investigate itself and there was no way Teco could find their boss, Prof Bakibinga, culpable. We cannot rely on this report other than that of the PPDA," Kibuku MP Saleh Kamba (NRM) said.
Prof Bakibinga, who appeared before the committee yesterday, denied any wrongdoing but the MPs insisted the professor should be reprimanded in accordance with the PPDA recommendations.
Prof. Bakibinga said: "The PPDA report is misconceived and I am sorry to the people who made this report. Their investigation was not objective and targeted specific conclusions. This PPDA report held me responsible without reviewing my job description."
He added: "As a vice chancellor in charge of finance and administration, I don't release funds; this is the work of the bursar. As a supervisor of the project (fence), as far the supervision is concerned, I am not a professional engineer, even if I visited the site, I will be incompetent to detect the structural defects."
Mr Akorimo told the committee that university council has not discussed the PPDA report that had implicated Prof Bakibinga since November 2007.
The MPs are to summon council chairman Mathew Rukikaire to clarify on reports that he disregarded PPDA findings.
Among other issues the police will investigate include reports that Prof. Bakibinga in August 2006 wrote to Eng. Mpango proposing new estimates for the construction of the wall, in contradiction of the original costs approved by management. But Bakibinga said it was a management decision and that changing estimates couldn't tantamount to change of design.
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