The Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Tourism, and Industry has directed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperative, Geraldine Ssali, to provide clarification regarding allegations of involvement by some ministers in a proposed deal to relocate the Ministry's headquarters.
The committee aimed to shed light on the decision to transfer the Ministry from Farmer's House, a government building, to a rented space at Kingdom House. However, Ssali claims that it was State Minister for Industries David Bahati who informed her that Farmer's House had been condemned, necessitating the relocation to Kingdom House or King Ceaser Plaza.
During the meeting, Committee Chairperson Mwine Mpaka informed legislators that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had been directed to process a file for Tom Opio, an office attendant at the Ministry of Trade, while awaiting guidance from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The committee then turned its attention to Principal Assistant Secretary Everest Ahimbisibwe and former Head of Procurement Lapyem, seeking clarification on the decision to relocate the Ministry from a government building to a private rented premises, which would reportedly cost the taxpayers 8 billion shillings annually.
During her appearance before the committee, Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali disclosed that Minister David Bahati had urged her to expedite the process of relocating the Ministry's headquarters on her first day in office.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Ssali further stated that her attempts to obtain formal documents from the managers of the two buildings involved in the proposed deal were unsuccessful, prompting her to cancel the relocation agreement.
Within the same meeting, the Permanent Secretary revealed that she had come across a document in which some officials within the Ministry had requested a supplementary budget of 20 billion shillings for the renovation of Farmer's House, instead of the 6.2 billion shillings recommended by the Ministry of Works. This discrepancy in funding requirements raised concerns among committee members, highlighting potential irregularities in the renovation plans.
The Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Tourism, and Industry is actively seeking clarification regarding allegations of a proposed relocation deal involving the Ministry of Trade's headquarters.
Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali has shed light on Minister David Bahati's involvement in the decision-making process, citing his assertion that Farmer's House had been condemned.
However, Ssali's inability to acquire essential documents from the building managers led her to cancel the deal.
The committee's inquiries have also uncovered a request for a significantly higher supplementary budget for the renovation of Farmer's House, further adding to the ongoing investigations surrounding this issue.
As the committee continues its investigation, further details may emerge regarding the transparency and appropriateness of the proposed relocation and renovation plans.
