9 November 2009
The controversy surrounding the Parliamentary probe into alleged misuse and embezzlement of funds for the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) grew deeper today after a member of parliament on the committee alleged that Shs1bn had been secured to bribe members and foil the inquiry.
An estimated Shs370bn was spent on the meeting that attracted among others the head of the Commonwealth, England queen Elizabeth II and son, the heir apparent, Prince Charles.
Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Sekikuubo, a member of the Public Accounts Committee that was tasked to look into the expenditure, told reporters at parliament today that a scheme to sabotage the proceedings has been hatched by some top ministers and MPs who have been implicated in the Chogm probe.
The committee week adjourned prematurely after a hot exchange amongst the MPs on the committee with some accusing their colleagues of trying to protect ministers implicated in some of the bad deals.
"Shs1 billion has been set apart to stifle the proceedings to ensure that ministers and all those implicated are let off the hook. They are already in action to ensure that this is a mere show piece and investigations take another course from pinning down the culprits," Mr Sekikuubo said without mentioning names of those who are behind the scheme.
The Chogm cash inquiry that kicked off last week is tasking public officials including cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries and other public officials to account for the money.
A special forensic audit by the Auditor General, which is the basis for the Parliamentary inquiry found that several procurements were grossly inflated and many procurement laws flouted.
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