By Raymond Baguma

THE Commonwealth Business Council in the UK has lashed out at the public accounts committee and questioned its mandate in probing the expenditure during the Commonwealth business forum.

The council managing director, Gregor MacKinnon said in a statement from London on Tuesday that they were shocked to receive reports of the committee’s enquiry on the CHOGM.

The reports have questioned the role and integrity of the council in relation to the forum which was held in Kampala prior to the 2007 CHOGM summit.

“Such an attack has never before happened in the history of the council and this kind of public treatment of international partners does not serve the country well. It will not help Uganda project itself as an investment destination,” MacKinnon said.

Recently, the committee under the ongoing CHOGM inquiry, questioned businessman James Mulwana, who was the chairman of the business forum’s steering committee, to give information about the forum.

The committee chairman, Nandala Mafabi, and the lead counsel, Tom Kazibwe said Mulwana, as the chairman of the organising committee, should account for the funds.

But MacKinnon said it is difficult for the council to understand the committees’s mandate and under what capacity it summoned individuals to be questioned.

“Given the nature of the enquiry, it would be more appropriate for such questions to be directed to the Government,” he said.

MacKinnon explained that during the preparations for the forum, the council mobilised considerable business interest and achieved participation from over 900 businesses and government leaders at the event.
He said they had received outstanding reports on the forum from the heads of government, as well as support and encouragement from President Yoweri Museveni.

He said the forum showcased Uganda and discussed investment opportunities in the country’s sectors of banking, information communication Technology, power and infrastructure.

“We are pleased that investment into Uganda has increased in the period following the forum,” MacKinnon said in a statement to The New Vision.

He said the council was set up by the heads of government as a private sector arm of the Commonwealth. However, the council was asked to raise its resources from the private sector.

“We do not receive any grant from Commonwealth governments and our activities and headquarters operating costs have to be supported by sponsorship of events,” MacKinnon said.

He said the council organised the forum under the direction of the host government’s taskforce guided by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

MacKinnon said the Government made a partial contribution of $100,000 (about sh2m) towards the forum’s business costs.
And the council contributed $85,000 (about sh174m), with contributions in kind valued at $146,500 (about sh299m) to assist CHOGM.