Sheila Naturinda
6 November 2009
Kampala — Principal Judge James Ogoola has been tipped to head the Judicial Commission of inquiry into the mismanagement of the education sector especially the rot in the primary and secondary schools, Daily Monitor has learnt.
Highly placed sources told this newspaper that President Museveni had already named people to sit on the much anticipated Commission but their names are still a guarded secret.
Higher Education State Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana said on Wednesday that "I just know it's [commission] chaired by a High Court judge."
Senior government officials were tight-lipped about the composition of the commission but sources said the President named Justice Ogoola as the head.
However, Justice Ogoola, a judicial officer known for his no-nonsense approach to pinning the corrupt, was reportedly tasked to name any other Judge in case he chose not to head the inquiry.
During the reading of this year's budget on June 11, Mr Museveni promised to appoint a commission to investigate the mismanagement of funds meant for curing illiteracy through free universal education at both primary and secondary levels.
His pronouncement came after numerous complaints that unchecked graft had crippled the delivery of quality education in the country especially at the lower levels.
The media has been awash with stories of head teachers smiling their way to the banks to fork out and divert money meant for UPE as the children attended classes on empty stomachs and, in most cases, study under trees.
Justice Ogoola's inquiry is a welcome note to anti-graft crusaders who might want to see some corrupt educationists exposed as the Principal Judge did with the culprits of the Global Fund saga.
Previous inquiries
The Ogoola Commision into the mismanagement of Global Fund money saw former health ministers Gen. Jim Muhwezi, Mike Mukula and Dr Alex Kamugisha, grilled for their alleged role in the scam that also attracted international fury.
The inquiry into the rot in UPE and USE has not kicked off because the appointment of members has not yet been formalised, sources said.
Junior Education Minister Kamanda Bataringaya said "the President lived to his word and appointed the committee. They, however, haven't been formalised, a probable reason they haven't begun work."
Although the ministers confirmed that the Commission will be headed by a Judge, they were hesitant to disclose the names.
Due to the alleged mismanagement of the education funds, in August, the government slashed the money it provides to maintain the pupils in schools under UPE by 25 per cent.
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