Charles Mwanguhya
12 July 2009
Kampala — Cabinet has resolved that all government departments that received funds to manage and coordinate Chogm activities account for the money starting next week.
In a meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday, it was resolved that all government departments account to the Ministry of Finance.
The State Minister for Ethics and Integrity who is also a Acting government Spokesperson said, "I have been sent by the Cabinet after we had a meeting yesterday and we resolved that accountability is a must for all those who accessed Chogm funds," he told journalists at the Government Media Centre yesterday.
The government spent Shs153billion on Chogm activities and Transport sector took the lion's share, Shs55 billion. He said it is the Ministry of Finance that disbursed the money "so all departments must account to the Ministry of Finance within the period to be specified next week," he said.
A source in the Ministry of Finance who spoke on condition of anonymity, said all the committees that coordinated Chogm activities under relevant ministries must have supporting documents to show how money was spent and on what.
Over 20 technical and cabinet committees chaired by the Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, were formed to manage and coordinate Chogm activities. According to Chogm arrangements, it was a cabinet minister who chaired the sector committee.
The source said they are also working on the mode of accountability to be used "that is whether the work done equals the funds disbursed or whether to only account for the money with the supporting documents," he said.
He said funds were disbursed to all ministries through technical committees "therefore all the ministries must account". Dr Buturo said those who fail to account for the money will face the law because the government doesn't condone corruption. He said the Chogm committees will also explain how the contracts were awarded and at how much.
Some of the lucrative contracts awarded to private companies included importation and hiring of Chogm cars by Motor Care Uganda at Shs25b, Media and Publicity went to QG Saatch and Saatch at Shs5b and beautification of Kampala and Entebbe at Shs4b by Nicontra Construction Ltd.
Dr Buturo also said he will table a Whistle blower motion to parliament next week to protect those who report corrupt government officials. Parliament resumes on Tuesday next week after two months recess and Dr Buturo said tabling of the motions means "more trouble" for corrupt officials.
He denied recent press reports that the Government Chief Whip, Kabakumba Matsiko had proposed to the National Resistance Movement MPs sitting on oversight committees to protect accounting officers from querying unclear accountabilities.
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