Fears of fresh corruption scandal at Premier’s office PARLIAMENT. Suspicions of a fresh graft scandal are brewing at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) where officials are believed to have, among others, bought an ordinary off-road vehicle and passed it off as a purpose-built ambulance for Alebtong District. This transaction has drawn in the State minister for northern Uganda, Ms Rebecca Amuge Otengo, who has threatened to petition the Inspectorate of Government (IGG). Acknowledging that errors were made, Ms Christine Guwatudde, the OPM Permanent Secretary, has since written to the minister, begging her not to petition the IGG because this would dent the image of an institution that is still recovering from the Shs50 billion scandal in which monies meant for post-conflict recovery in northern Uganda and Karamoja were swindled. She undertook to handle the matter “administratively”. Considering the recent history of fraud witnessed by this office which left it with a battered image. I beg your indulgence to refrain from handling this matter as such. I have taken carefully measured steps to handle it administratively,” Ms Guwatudde said in her June 4 letter to Ms Otengo. Ms Guwatudde joined OPM in June 2013 on the heels of the clean-up which followed the multi- billion shilling scandal. The ambulance tender was awarded six months later in January 2014. Trouble started after Ms Otengo learnt that OPM officials had bought a Mitsubishi Pajero and fitted it to look like an ambulance in fulfilment of a presidential campaign pledge. On May 15, she wrote to Ms Guwatudde, copy to the President, and threatened to communicate to anti-corruption arms of government. The IGG, Ms Irene Mulyagonja, yesterday told Daily Monitor that the minister has not lodged a formal complaint with her office but promised to take action as soon as a complaint is filed. She said, her office was investigating OPM officials on the embezzlement of Shs892 million relating to the resettlement of refugees in Adjumani District. Daily Monitor investigations reveal that OPM’s contracts committee awarded the ambulance tender to M/s Victoria Motors at a cost of Shs129.7 million on January 8. Ministry of Health was not consulted on the specifications.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 02:38:04 +0000
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